Drugs in the Workplace - Essay Example

?Drugs in the Workplace Occupational and health psychology have become important components in the developing field of organizational and industrial psychology. With the developments in technology and the diversifying work environment, many new stresses are occurring on this generation than generations previous. As a result, workers have looked for ways to relieve this stress which has lead to an increase of drug and alcohol usage both in and outside the workplace. This has lead to both legal issues as well as hiring issues with the advent of drug testing usually required before one applies for a job as well as while they work there. Therefore, it is important to understand how these common drugs work, its relation in history and to the economy as well as prevention and rehabilitation in the workplace. One of the most commonly used drugs in the workplace are the use of alcohol and tobacco products which are controlled substances regulated by the UK government and legislation. Alcohol is a depressant which depresses the central nervous system as well as other functions. Many people who are stressed turn to alcohol due to the wide variety of alcoholic substances that are available as well as the accessibility. Alcohol can act on multiple neurotransmitters in the body which affects the reinforcing behavior which can make it a liability in the workplace. Alcohol decreases the secretion of acetylcholine, can elevate GABA levels as well as increase dopamine and epinephrine (Light 1986). Acetylcholine is involved specifically with the regulation of the central nervous system which in turn under the influence of alcohol slows down reflexes, lowers concentration rate, blood pressure, etc. Increases in dopamine and GABA can also lead to a state of calmness. In contrast, many people find that they become tired at school and work as well. This has lead to a prevalence of tobacco in the workplace whether in the form of dip or in cigarettes. Nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant which acts on nicotinic receptors. It causes an increase in acetylcholine which is what causes the increased awareness and attention as well as keeps dopamine from breaking down as quickly by causing it to stay in the synapse longer. Also, with smoking you have the problem of positive reinforcement in that they associate the relief of stress when they smoke. Knowing the basic principles of human behavior and drug abuse is the first step in understanding why that pattern of behavior develops and what preventative measures can be taken to inhibit this behavior. It is also important to consider the personal factors that can make a person use a drug. Some of the main ones are hereditary factors, personality, psychological conditioning, and social class (Hanson et Al., 2006, p. 45). In genetics, it has been proven that certain people are more susceptible to drug use than others. In determining who is at risk for alcoholism, researchers discovered that genes encoding for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase play a role in determining a person’s susceptibility to alcoholism (Foroud et Al., 2010, p. 65). Personality and psychological conditioning are also important when determining susceptibility to drug use. Those that have what is considered to be an “addictive personality” may become fixed on drug use which then as a result can become an addiction based on psychological conditioning i.e. smoking. Social class and status may also play a role in drug use due to the type of budget that their income is based off of. The history of alcohol and tobacco use is also important in understanding their occurrence in the marketplace. There were a few key points in history that might have influenced the regulation of drugs and alcohol in the workplace and out as well. In the Victorian era, it was common for the gentleman to smoke and have a brandy while they discussed politics and other important matters. It was also common place for the users to engage in other elicit drugs such as cocaine and opium (Victorian Substance Abuse 2000). As both history, science and medical technology has progressed, we have seen more legislature passed across the world to further regulate these substances, often making many of them illegal. Compared to previous eras, in this day of age we are aware of what long term use and consumption does to us physically. Long term alcohol use can lead to kidney and liver problems as well as related cardiovascular problems. Smoking and tobacco has been linked with many different kinds of cancers and diseases. With all of these rules and all of the information we know about the negative aspects of alcohol and drugs, many ask the question: why do we do it? Is it due to cultural norms or is this the result of stresses in life and the workplace? One of the most influential powers is through the media. Drug and alcohol use is portrayed in movies and televisions. One can argue that based on media, drug use can be considered the “cool” or the rational thing to do under circumstances. It is common to see the guy smoking a cigarette or the girl having a glass of champagne. Do these cues become subliminally ingrained in our psyche which influenced the actions that we do? According to Jungian psychology, we share a space called a collective unconsciousness (Corey, 2009, p. 80). This is basically the sum of our collective knowledge’s and experiences as one entity. According to this theory, we could be the cause of our own problems when dealing with the use of alcohol and drugs at work. In addition, we take in all kinds of information whether we are aware of the process or not. The simple fact of seeing someone smoke a cigarette could implant a trigger in their memory which could one day surface when they try smoking. It can also be a behavioral and learning aspect. Observational learning by watching people in daily life and on television can also create the use of drugs as a learned aspect. To summarize this up, is it possible that we train ourselves with the idea of smoking and drinking is socially acceptable based on daily occurrence and the media? One of the common occupations in which there is a prevalence of drug and alcohol use is in the military. With occupational hazards and the constant threats, it is no wonder that tobacco and drugs have made their way into this occupation. However, what about jobs that do not have those daily challenges and stressors? Many claim that they have these types of behaviors because they are believed to be socially acceptable and that it can help relieve the stress involved. The basic methods of stress are when a person’s perceived external demands outweigh their perceived coping resources. As a result, they feel like they are unable to cope. Alcohol and drugs provide a quick way to relieve this stress. Alcohol, being a depressant, can help a person unwind by lowering their perceived stress levels and tobacco, being a stimulant, can help increase the perceived amount of attentiveness and energy required to make it through the average work day. As we can see, for every different kind of occupation has its own correlated value as to the amount of stress required. As a result, the amount of alcohol and tobacco is directly related to the amount of stress that a person perceives. It is also important to look at the legislative acts which have played a role in drug/alcohol entering the workplace. The most important piece of legislature which has not only impact England, but also the United States as well was the Health and Safety Work Act of 1974. This act lays out the rules regarding safety and responsibility in the workplace. It involves making the work environment secure for all people as well as controlling substances. It defines the rights and obligations of all parties that could be involved in the marketplace. This act specifically defines the duties of managers as well as rules dealing specifically with the rights of both the employee and employer in respect to health and safety. Like all humans, we have our ways of coping with stress and the challenges that come with the specific jobs that we choose. The judgment error is what comes into play once these habits enter the workplace. There is a specific set of rules which help govern controlled substances in the workplace. These specific conditions in which an employer can become involved are: when the worker is using an illegal substance while in the workplace, if the worker is visibly intoxicated while working, when the person’s work is starting to suffer due to either intoxication or due to the worker’s drug use, when the work has an associated risk in which the person could cause an accident if under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and when the actions that could be taken by the worker under the influence pose a liability not only for themselves, but also others and are deemed socially unacceptable by the public. While a person is under the influence, especially if it is an illegal substance, this poses a liability not only to the person’s livelihood, but also to the companies as well. Also, if there are associated risks with the type of work being performed; being under the influence can also cause unnecessary accidents which could be harmful or fatal. All of these reasons are important for occupational psychologist to note because they influence the work environment and this is also important for those in upper level managerial positions to note. From a financial and economical standpoint, it is also important to note that drugs and alcohol in the workplace can be problematic. If a person is constantly missing work or is late due to a problem with alcohol/drugs, this is costing the company money, but is also decreasing efficiency which can lead to a greater loss in revenue. All of the facts above are concerns in which a person in an occupational leadership position must think about doing when dealing with someone who has an alcohol/drug problem. Like in most aspects in life a good offense is also a good defense. Part of the problem of drugs and alcohol problems creeping into the workforce is that as a majority, most people are uneducated and this problem then falls on the company owners. There are many ways in which a company can teach its employees about proper health and exercising good judgment when dealing with drugs and alcohol. This can be modeled by using a triage model. The triage model works by assessing crisis situations in terms of actions that need to be carried out immediately in comparison to those that are not as important. As a result, the triage model can be transformed and fitted to deal with this concept in occupational health psychology. The first step to good prevention is education. Some people might not be aware of the dangers of using alcohol and drugs; by educating employees on this, you can hope to curb this behavior. It is also important to take into consideration the societal and cultural restraints in which you are looking at the problem in context. In most western societies, it is frowned upon showing up reeking of smoke and liquor whereas in maybe a third world country, this is considered normal. It is also important to make your employees aware that it is ok to choose these habits as long as they are aware of the consequences and how to practice in safety and moderation. For example in England, a standard drink contains approximately seven grams of ethanol. In order to facilitate good safety and understanding of alcohol use, company owners can address the concept of the BAC or blood alcohol concept level and talk about the effects that can be produced after a certain number of standard drinks. It would also be pertinent to talk about the different types of alcohol that are on the market, i.e. beer and liquor, and the associated risks associated with each. After the proper steps have been taken in order to ensure good education among employees, it is important to observe and be aware of the behaviors that are occurring within the workplace. This involves both the observation skills required as a leader in which the owner should be aware of those underneath him, but also the communication skills required in case there is inquiry regarding a certain person. Screenings, even though it does cost additional money, can help identify those that are not following through with their education and are in need of additional assistance. The biggest part in the screening process with observation and intervention is retaining the professionalism involved in the sensitive and personal matter. It is also important to keep confidentiality regarding the matter especially when the matter might The last part of triage would be adapted to those who are already suffering from drug/alcohol addiction. Addiction can be both physical and mental. It is important when dealing with an employee that has an alcohol/drug problem to talk effectively. It is also important to let them know that you are there to help them get better because most human behavior will see an intervention as an attack on their personal ways. Depending on company policy, this could lead to the termination of employment for that individual. There are many ways to accomplish rehabilitation. Counselors and therapists can be instrumental in helping define the behavioral and cognitive patterns that lead to the addiction and breaking these patterns. Support groups like AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, can provide social support in which a person can regain composure and healing. There are two different kinds of addictions that must be addressed when looking for places for rehab. The first type of addiction is a psychological addiction. The psychological addiction is synonymous to addiction. Often, there has been a cognitive restructuring of how the person relates to the drug in which they have the need for a drug at work based on occupation or for other various reasons. Physiological addiction is a much serious matter. It involves the person actually becoming chemically addicted to the substance which could play a critical role in the negative behavior that an employer might witness at work. As a result, these two different types of rehabilitation would involve different levels of therapy and would result in two very different kinds of treatment. Another important part of drugs and alcohol usage making its prevalence in the workforce is how easily accessible it might be to the person based on occupation. For example, it would be easy for someone who has an alcohol problem to have access to liquor if they were a bartender. Armed forces usually have a constant supply of both alcohol and tobacco in order to combat the occupational stress. Medical practitioners, often being some of the most stressed professionals, will often have access to other drugs that they could become addicted to if they start drug abuse. The ease and accessibility of the drug is one of the primary factors which will determine whether that drug/alcohol will make an impact on the business or not. In conclusion, it is important to understand the context of drug use in the workplace and how to regulate socially acceptable uses of controlled substances. First, it must be acknowledged that external factors such as stress and social norms can influence whether or not this becomes a challenge in the workplace. There is also a fundamental relationship between the employee and the employers with the responsibilities are endowed to each. For the employee, knowing the rules and proper education regarding drug usage in the workplace is vital in order to function as an important part of the team. As a manager, it is important to know your employees, to properly educate, and in some cases intervene when intervention and rehabilitation are needed. It is a continuous cyclic cycle of checks and balances in which in order to promote a safe and healthy work environment, proper precautions and legislature are needed to regulate drug usage in the workplace. Bibliography Foroud, T, Edenberg, H, & Crabbe, J 2010, 'Genetic research: Who is at risk for alcoholism?', Alcohol Research & Health, 33, 1-2, pp. 64-75, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, viewed 29 January 2011. Corey, Gerald (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. 8th ed. Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole. pp. 80. Hanson, Glen. Venturelli, Peter. Fleckenstein, Annette (2006). Drugs and society. 9th ed. London: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. pp. 46. Harding, Steven. Olivier, Anne. Jokic, Olivera. (2000). Victorian Substance Abuse. Available: http://drugs.uta.edu/drugs.html. Last accessed 26th Jan 2011. Light, W. J. H. (1986). Neurobiology of Alcohol Abuse. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. Read More