The consumption of addictive drugs in working life and its

consequences

presented byJudith KleinFHÖV NRWCologne

Outline

1. Basic information about addictive drugs

1.1. Definition of the term addictive drugs

1.2. Legal drugs1.2.1. Alcohol1.2.2. Tobacco and nicotine1.2.3. Pharmaceuticals

1.3. Illegal drugs - a new phenomenon in working life

1.4. Being dependent on drugs - how addiction works

2. Misuse and addiction

2.1. Differentiation and definitions

2.2. Causes

2.2.1. The personal capability of becoming addicted

2.2.2. Strains at work

3. Facts

4. Consequences and disruptions in working life

4.1. Employee

4.2. Colleagues

4.3. Employer

1. Basic information about addictive drugs

1.1. Definition

each active component which is able to change the features of an organism can be called an addictive drug

addictive drugs are primary used to achieve an intoxication or to satisfy an addiction

1.2. Legal drugs

1.2.1. Alcohol

is the colloquial term for ethanol (C2H5OH)

it is known as the intoxicating extract of alcoholic drinks

alcoholic drinks are dissolutions of ethanol in different saps or plant extracts

alcohol streams through the mucosa and reaches fast the bloodstream so that it influences the whole organism

a consequence of this are diseases of the whole body and a weakening of the immune system

the most frequently illnesses caused by alcohol misuse are:

gastroenteritis

pancreatic inflammations

liver damages

cardiovascular diseases

1.2.2. Tobacco and nicotine

basis is § 5 of the health and safety at work act where the non-smoker protection is ruled

several countries have already enacted a law to protect non-smokers (Germany, Austria, France, USA for example)

tobacco is mostly consumed as cigarettes, rarely as cigars or pipes

nicotine has a stimulating effect and is appetite- repressing

it is able to improve the power of concentration and the productivity for a short time

a higher dosing can ease the feeling of stress and nervousness

nicotine has a high capability to make one dependent on drugs mentally and physically

1.2.3. Pharmaceuticals

are primary taken to recover from an illness or to be able to live without pain

an addiction often develops because the employee wants to function in his everyday life and wants to deal with the requirements appropriately

4-5 % of the prescribed medicaments are able to cause an addiction

these are especially hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizer, analgetics or caffeinated pharmaceuticals

estimations show that 25-30 % of these medicaments are not taken because of acute troubles

1.3. Illegal drugs - a new phenomenon in working life

compared to the development of legal drugs illegal drugs show an upward trend concerning the consumption

the most established drugs are: cannabis amphetamines/ecstasy cocaine heroin

1.4. Being dependent on drugs - how addiction works

positive mechanism of intensification occur due to a reprogramming of the reward system in the frontal lobe

a result of taking drugs is a long-lasting change in dealing with impulses of the neurones

the messenger dopamine influences the feelings and senses of a human being in the „nucleus accumbus“, the reward system

a high concentration of dopamine makes an upcoming happening seem more rewarding

the programming on drugs will always be left so the neurones will always be sensitive to drugs even after years

in a last step to an addiction the number of receptor cells which are able to absorb dopamine is reduced

the transition between a controlled consumption and addictive consumption must be seen as a continuous process

2. Misuse and addiction

2.1. Differentiation and definitions

the term addiction exists since 1963

addiction means the peremptory craving for certain substances or behaviours which create a satisfying situation

addiction is seen as a disease after the WHO

2.2. Causes

2.2.1. The personal capability of becoming addicted

some people have a certain disposition to develop an addiction

organic or genetic reasons

previous impacts in the family

absence of future prospects

common economic condition

imperilling advertising for consumption

anonymity and social isolation

model-learning

situation of competition and pressure to perform

2.2.2. Strains at work

may cause a risky health behaviour

manager and female workers are especially endangered

strains at work are the biggest dangers to health nowadays

high risks to become ill because of mental strains result from

high requirements at work and the impossibility to influence them

many long hours so that the rhythm of life is disturbed

no aedequate income compared to the output

3. Facts

4% of all employees are addicted to pharmaceuticals

22 % of the women who are addicted to opiates have a job, 35 % of the men have a job

12 % of the jobholders are alcohol addicts, other 15 % are urgently endangered

11 % consume alcohol at work every day

alcohol addicts are absent up to 60 % of the regular working time

they usually render only 75 % of the average performance on the job

25 % of all accidents at work happen due to alcoholism

invalidity because of alcoholism is diagnosed in 92.000 cases each year

early retirement is given to about 6.500 alcohol addicts every year

the annual damage owing to the death rate and the morbidity rate is about twenty thousand million Euros

4. Consequences and disruptions in working life

4.1. Employee

abnormalities in his outer appearance, his social behaviour and his working habits occur

many consequences under employment law may result from this behaviour:

lowering of the income

no continuation of payments to sick workers

warnings

dismissal

4.2. Colleagues

at the beginning of the addiction the employee is still accepted by the colleagues to keep up the balance of the team

after some time the working atmosphere is disturbed

a co-dependency develops

4.3. Employer

addicted employees can cause considerable direct or incidental costs

these may be:

absence from work costs for disciplinary measures output deficites

a loss of prestige with customers damages of third persons costs caused by accidents on the job or travel accidents material damages, breakdowns or other damages of

property higher costs for government aid and health insurance costs due to dismissal or early retirement

annual costs due to alcoholism:

= 5 % alcohol addicts of the work force x average income of the work force x 25 % loss factor