Page 22 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

One too many

If an employee is taking prescription
medication or using over-the-counter USEFUL CONTACTS FOR
drugs, they may not be aware that ADDICTION ISSUES
they are putting their safety, and the
safety of others, at risk. Therefore, not ■ Drinkline is the national alcohol
only is it is important that employees helpline. If you’re worried about your
always consult a doctor, pharmacist or own or someone else’s drinking, you
healthcare professional for advice can call this free helpline, in complete
before embarking on a course of confidence. Call 0300 123 1110
treatment, but they should also (weekdays 9am – 8pm,
weekends 11am – 4pm).
inform their employer to prevent any
misunderstandings in the future. ■ Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free
self-help group. Its 12-step programme
DRUG TESTS – involves getting sober with the help of
KNOW THE PROS AND CONS regular support groups. Visit www.
With numerous options available for alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
drug tests, it isn’t always immediately
apparent which drug-testing method ■ Al-Anon Family Groups offer support
will be the most suitable for meeting and understanding to the families and
an employer’s requirements. friends of problem drinkers, whether
The first step before making any they’re still drinking or not. Alateen is
commitment to using a certain testing part of Al-Anon and can be attended
by 12- to 17-year-olds who are affected
method is to fully understand the pros by another person’s drinking, usually a A breathalyzer
and cons for each type of drug test parent. Visit www.al-anonuk.org.uk
available. So while an employer may how the procedure is carried out and
already have an idea about what drug ■ Addaction is a UK-wide treatment followed through. This means making
testing method they will use, agency that helps individuals, families sure the staff implementing a testing
understanding the various benefits and and communities to manage the effects policy have the sufficient training to
restrictions of each version will truly of drug and alcohol misuse. perform them fairly and effectively.
help to establish which one will be the Visit www.addaction.org.uk If an employer does not follow best
most suitable for their requirements. practice policy this can cause issues
One of the most popular choices for ■ Adfam is a national charity working further down the line, particularly if an
drug testing – but not always the most with families affected by drugs and employee has tested positive for drugs
effective – is testing urine samples. For alcohol. Adfam operates an online or alcohol. Therefore, professional and
message board and database of local
many years these have been used as a support groups. reliable training is absolutely crucial for
reliable and cost-effective form of drug Visit www.adfam.org.uk those being assigned to implement
testing, providing instant results that alcohol testing policies in the
can be recorded in-house. ■ SMART Recovery groups help workplace, ensuring that reliable
However, while urine tests are ideal participants decide whether they have evidence can be presented in the event
for implementing random testing a problem, build up their motivation to of an industrial tribunal.
policies, and can serve as a deterrent to change and offer a set of proven tools
employees misusing drugs or alcohol in and techniques to support recovery. WORKPLACE WELLBEING
the workplace, this form of testing is Visit www.smartrecovery.org.uk Aside from the obvious health and
not without its limitations. For example, safety benefits, if implemented
a urine test will often not reveal if an effectively, a robust policy will also
individual has consumed drugs in the For this reason, oral fluid collection help to reduce absenteeism, increase
last two hours. So, in the event that an has been established as the go-to worker productivity, and improve
incident occurred in the workplace, a method of drug-testing. With a far customer satisfaction.
urine test obtained immediately simpler collection process, which can The industry continues to improve
afterwards might not determine if the be observed at all times and is health and safety standards across
employee was impaired by drugs at the therefore less susceptible to the board. Establishing a drugs and
time the incident actually took place. tampering, the window of detection alcohol testing policy should be every
Blood testing is the most accurate for the drugs in saliva mimics that of operator’s priority as part of
method of establishing what drugs are blood testing. Consequently, it’s the maintaining this standard. ■
in a person’s system, but the medical method of choice for UK police
training and laboratory analysis roadside testing, and many companies ■ AlcoDigital provides professional
required can mean it is not ideal and implementing drug screening policies. training and certified drugs and
can be beyond the reach of companies alcohol testing equipment to private,
requiring a regular testing policy. Hair BEST PRACTICE POLICY corporate, and governmental
testing can provide historic data of AND TRAINING organisations across the UK.
what drugs a person has used – but Of course it isn’t just about the type For more information, visit
not from the most recent few weeks. of equipment being used, but also www.alcodigital.co.uk.

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