Drugs and Alcohol: The Effects of Substance Abuse in the Workplace

Did you know that employee alcohol consumption contributes to 5% of all Australian workplace deaths and 4 -11% of non-fatal workplace injuries? In addition, a monstrous $5.2 billion is lost in productivity due to alcohol and drugs use. The effects of alcohol and drugs within the workplace should not be underestimated. These few statistics alone are an indication of the dangerous – in some cases fatal – impact of drugs and alcohol abuse in the workplace.

In 2014 the Australian Drug Foundation found that half of Australia’s workers drink at harmful levels, with around 17% of workers using illicit drugs such as cannabis, and that an estimated $6 billion is lost in work productivity per year as a result.

It was further discovered by the Australian Drug Foundation that an employee under the influence of alcohol verbally abused 1 in 4 workers while 1 in 50 were physically abused.

Workplace drug and alcohol expert’s reports found that alcohol abuse in Australia contributes to 5% of deaths in the workplace while substance abuse contributed to 11% of non-fatal work injuries.

Our Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Training course dives into these factors affecting workplaces.

This blog was provided under the permission of KINNECT.