Alcoholism and Drug use in the work place

Therefore there is some indirect evidence to support a self control theory to alcohol consumption

Demographics theory according to this theory alcohol /drug use is a function of the characteristics of the workforce rather than working conditions . Various demographic variables such as education and race are more substantially related to alcohol and substance use . Mensch and Kandel (1998 ) cited by Harris (1992 , examined this theory using 5000 working men and 4000 working women . Employing both direct and indirect measures of job stress and job satisfaction they found that there is

very limited relationship between these variables and alcohol and substance use

Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

One of the effects of alcohol and drug use at work is that it causes higher rates of absenteeism , accidents at workplace , illness and mortality . In the recent times research has shown that absenteeism is 2-3 times higher for drug and alcohol users than non-users . The workers that with chemical dependence may claim 3 times many sickness benefits and five times as many workers compensation claim . In addition 20-25 of accidents at work involve those who use drugs or alcohol causing injuries to themselves or their fellow workmates

Another effect of alcohol and drug use is that it reduces the performance , quality and safety of the work . Research has shown that relatively high level of performance impairment can occur after the consumption of even fairly low qualities of alcohol . According to Moddel and Mountz (1990 , `when airline pilot had to perform routine tasks in a simulation under three test conditions , its found that before the ingestion of any alcohol , 10 of them could not perform all operation correctly , after reaching a blood alcohol concentration of 0 .1 /100ml 89 could not perform all the operation correctly ' this therefore shows how the effect of...