1

Drug & Alcohol Awareness

PPT-039-01 129

The Unseen Reality

Think PA’s workplaces are drug free? Think again.

• 75% of drug users are employed

• Almost one in ten employees has a substance abuse problem

• 24% of workers admit to drinking during the workday at least once in the past year

• 15% of U.S. workers report using alcohol or being impaired on the job in the past year

1310

The Cost of Substance Abuse

• Increased Health Care Costs

• Increased Workers’ Compensation Premiums

• Increased Workplace Violence

1411

Substance Abuse

• Individuals who abuse drugs or alcohol are three and a half times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident compared to individuals who do not abuse drugs or alcohol

• 47% of industrial injuries are directly related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism

12

The Facts – Drug & Alcohol Abuse

• Workers have higher rates of turnover & absenteeism

• More likely to have worked for 3 employersin the previous year

• More likely to skip 2 days of work in a month

• Also more likely missed 2 or more days due to injury or illness

PPT-039-0 813

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

Accomplishes two major things:

1. Sends a clear message that use of alcohol and drugs in the workplace is prohibited

2. Encourages employees who have problems with alcohol and other drugs to voluntarily seek help

PPT-039-0 21

Assistance

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

• Employee provided healthcare insurance

• Various Federal, State and Local programs

PPT-039-02 27

NOT your Responsibility to

• Diagnose drug and alcohol problems

• Have all the answers

• Provide counseling or therapy

• Be a police officer

44

Alcohol & Drugs

The Basics

45

When someone abuses or has an addiction to alcohol or other drugs it affects themselves as well as other people around them:

• Emotionally

• Behaviorally

• Physically

Substance Abuse

PPT-039-02 46

Alcohol

• Odor (breath or on person)

• Intoxication/drunk

• Glazed look

• Lack of focus

• Uncharacteristically passive or combative

• Argumentative

• Deterioration of personal hygiene

PPT-039-02 47

Alcohol

• Dysfunctional

• Absenteeism (Mondays)

• Blackouts

• Loss of memory

• Fixated on drinking (both social & professional)

• Trouble with relationships

• Difficulty walking

PPT-039-02 48

Cannabis (Marijuana)

• Other: Hashish, Hashish oils

• Active ingredient: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Not physically addictive, moderately addictive psychologically

PPT-039-02 49

Cannabis

Effects

• Euphoria

• Impaired memory

• Concentration

• Knowledge retention

• Loss of coordination

• Loss of motivation

• Animated behavior

• Other similar conditions that impair work and personal relationships

PPT-039-02 50

Cannabis – What the Supervisor May See

• Work level decrease

• Increase of incidents

• Loss of concentration

• Repeating instructions

• Breakage

• Out of character behavior

PPT-039-02 51

Inhalants

• Not regulated as typical drugs

• Commonly found substances that produce certain effects similar to scheduled drugs

• Examples: glue, marking pens, gasoline, butane, amyl nitrite and aerosol sprays

52

Inhalants

• Loss of muscle control

• Slurred speech

• Respiratory failure

• Cardiac arrest

• Number of other physical symptoms

• Brain & lung damage

• Can be fatal (even in small amounts)

PPT-039-02 53

Inhalants – What the Supervisor may see

• Paint on nose or fingers

• Drunk-like reaction

• Trouble breathing

• Loss of strength/control

• Fatigue

• Lack of coordination

PPT-039-02 54

Stimulants

Signs & Symptoms

• Increased heart rate

• Alertness

• Respiratory functioning

• Restlessness

• Agitation

• Decreased appetite

• Psychological dependency

• Physical dependency

PPT-039-02 55

Stimulants

Effects

• Dilated pupils

• Dry mouth

• “Drug nose” look

• Runny nose

• Sinus/nasal problem

• Nose bleeds

• Bad breath

• Euphoria

• Fidgeting

• No interest in food or sleep

• Irritability

• Argumentative

• Nervous

• Talkative with no direction

PPT-039-02 56

Stimulants – What the Supervisor may see

• Increase in errors

• Increased risk of accidents

• Weight loss (facial)

PPT-039-02 57

Depressants

• Frequent doctor trips for nervousness, anxiety, stress, etc.

• Acting drunk (without odor)

• Limited or no facial expression or animation

• Personality is flat

• Lacking energy

• Slurred speech

PPT-039-02 58

Narcotics

Signs & Symptoms

• Acting lethargic or drowsy

• Constricted pupils/not reactive

• Redness & raw nostrils from inhalation

• Track marks

• Slurred speech

• Frequent trips to doctors for pain medication

• Increase in frequency and amount of prescribed pain medication w/o doctor consent

• Sweating, vomiting, coughing & sniffling, twitching, loss of appetite

PPT-039-02 59

Why Synthetic?

• Feels like a marijuana high

• Danger of not knowing all of the ingredients in the synthetic product

• Contaminated with impurities

• Do not test positive on THC drug test

PPT-039-02 60

Designer Drugs

• Psychoactive substances, stimulant

• Amateur chemists - cookers

• Injected, smoked, snorted or ingested

• Rapid onset (1-4 minutes)

• Short duration of action (30 minutes to a few hours)

• Fentanyl is one of the 3 common bases for designer drugs = 80 to 100 times more potent then Heroin

PPT-039-02 61

Designer Drug

Common Drugs Effects

• Ecstasy

• Adam

• Lovers Speed

• Special K

• Fantasy

• Nature’s Quaalude

• Physical

– Hypertension, blurred vision, tremors, drooling, anorexia, impaired speech, paralysis, seizures, brain damage, death

• Psychological

– Confusion, irritability, anxiety, emotional, irrational, depression, amnesia, violent behavior, insomnia

PPT-039-02 62

Bath Salts

• Synthetic Drugs

• “Plant food”

• “Not for human consumption”

• Synthetic drug is similar to a natural drug from Khat Plant

• Crystals or capsules may contain anesthetic lidocaine

PPT-039-02 63

Bath Salts Brand Names

Brand Names

• Genie

• Yucatan Fire

• King Krypto

• Mr. Nice Guy

• K-3

• Red Magic

• Blueberry Medication

• Super Skunk

Incense Chemical Sprays

• JWH-015, 018, 019, 073, 200, 398

• HU-210, 211

• CP 47, 497

PPT-039-02 64

Bath Salts

Signs & Symptoms

• Agitation

• Extreme nervousness

• Fast heartbeat

• Increased blood pressure

• Tremors/shaking

• Vomiting

• Hallucinations

• Seizures

PPT-039-02 65

Bath Salts – What the Supervisor may see

• Avoidance

• Red-faced

• Shaking/dropping things

• Sick

• Appears “out of it”

• Sense of heart problems

– Sweaty

– Cool

– Grabbing chest

PPT-039-02 66

Hallucinogens

• LSD

• Peyote

• Psilocybin

• Mushrooms

• PCP

PPT-039-02 67

Signs & Symptoms

Hallucinogens

• Dilated pupils

• Heavy sweating

• Strong body odor

• Distorted senses

• Hallucinations

• Distorted view of themselves

• Self absorbed

• Slurred speech

• Confusion

• Isolated/detached

• Time (unaware)

• Changes in mood and behaviors

68

Hallucinogens – What the Supervisor may see

• Fixed small pupils

• Sweating

• Hyper sensitive

• Separated from reality

PPT-039-02 69

OTC Drugs

• Both prescription and OTC drugs can affect the worker in numerous ways especially if a reaction or drug interaction occurs

• Hard to predict; may have the same symptoms as alcohol or drug use, but could be caused by legal drugs

• Consider a policy on OTC drugs in the workplace based on the job description

PPT-039-02 70

Common OTC & Prescription

• Opioids

• Topiramate

• Antihistamines

• Antidepressants

• Sedative Hypnotics

• Anti-Anxiety Medications

• Skeletal muscle relaxants

• Anti-Diabetic Medications

• Cold medicines

• Allergy Medications