How to Spot Workplace Drug Abuse

In 2005, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), of the17.2 million illegal drugs users age 18 or older, 12.9 million were fulltime or part-time workers. Additionally, 10 to 20 percent of American job fatalities test positive for alcohol or drugs. Knowing how to detect a drug abuser in the workplace is the one of the keys to a safer and more productive environment.

Instructions

Spotting a Drug Abuser in the Workplace

• 1

  Look for performance issues. This is one of the easiest ways to spot a drug abuser in the workplace. Drugs operate by altering the brain, distorting its normal functioning. The drug abuser may have trouble following instructions, calculates wrongly, performs at an unacceptable pace and may be prone to disappearing from the workplace, although she clocked in for work and should not be on break.

• 2

  Check the drug abuser's eyes for constricted or dilated pupils. Stimulant (e.g. cocaine) and hallucinogen (e.g. LSD and PCP) use cause dilated (larger) pupils. Sedative (e.g. barbiturates) and opioid (e.g. heroin) use result in constricted (smaller) pupils. Redness in the eye whites can indicate intoxication; residue on the face, hands or garments, rashes around the nose or mouth can suggest inhalant use; and profuse sweating may be an indicator of hallucinogen use.

• 3

  Observe the employee's coordination. If she exhibits difficulty with tasks requiring coordination (e.g. operating a machine) she may be intoxicated. Talk to her to determine if her speech is slurred---an indicator of alcohol, opioids, sedatives and inhalants use.

• 4

  Examine the employee's moods. Drug abuse can cause mood swings, laughter, anger, indifference and excessive crying. These symptoms can happen even if an employee is not intoxicated; therefore, it is best to watch how the employee controls her emotions. If she is laughing for no reason in an uncontrollable manner, she may be intoxicated.

• 5

  Look for disturbances in the employee ability to stay awake while on the job. Opioids, marijuana and alcohol can result in tiredness or falling asleep. They can also cause confusion and problems with focusing and memory. If the employee complains of a racing heart or nausea, or smells like alcohol, pay attention. An employee exhibiting many of these symptoms may not be on drugs. For example, mood swings are a common occurrence in many people. However, if the employee has constricted pupils, and is restless and unproductive, she is worth examining for drug abuse.