Britain’s Trade Unions Congress recently estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of all workplace absences in the UK are the result of alcohol use and misuse, while drug screener Concateno estimates that 1 in 30 UK employees have drugs or alcohol in their system while at work. UK employers have responded with an array of drug testing and anti-drug policies. The degree of testing, which can range from urine to blood tests, and the disciplinary approaches taken in the case of a positive result can vary widely between industries, with safety-critical organizations being far more rigorous. Concateno laboratory director Dr. Claire George says that, “the introduction of a balanced policy that includes an Employee Assistance Program providing support and education, as well as drug testing, has been proven to reduce the level of substance misuse in the workplace over time.” Employer support is a crucial element of effective policies on drug and alcohol misuse, and covers counseling services, referral to occupational health practitioners and possibly time off for attendance at support groups such as AA. Disciplinary procedures are a last resort and largely reserved for those ‘caught’ in workplace testing.
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