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
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:
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
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
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
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