What Can I D? Substance Abuse Training Mdule 2
Table f Cntents Intrductin Objectives Hw d yu recgnize when a c-wrker might have a prblem with alchl r drugs? What rle d yu play by accepting behavir that is influenced by substances? When and hw d yu decide t d smething abut a c-wrker wh may be abusing substances? When and hw is it apprpriate t invlve thers? Surces f help Summary Pst Test
What Can I D? Intrductin This substance abuse training prgram was develped t assist in understanding the impact f alchl and drug use in the wrkplace and its effects n safety and health in that envirnment. The purpse f this mdule, What Can I D? is t learn when and hw t help a c-wrker, family member r friend wh may have a substance abuse prblem. The misuse f drugs and alchl affects EVERYBODY, nt just the user. C-wrkers can ften be a pwerful influence n thse wh are abusing drugs and/r alchl. By knwing what t d and what nt t d, c-wrkers can make the wrkplace safer and help their c-wrkers t get help. This training segment is designed t prvide emplyees with infrmatin and tls t help them prevent substance abuse n the jb, at hme r in the cmmunity, and t prvide them with resurces fr supprt. Objectives Alchl and drug abuse can be a prblem anywhere, frm the wrk flr t the cmpany bardrm. In the wrkplace it is a prblem that cnfrnts emplyees, supervisrs and emplyers alike. The bjective f this segment is t prvide an understanding f the prblems f substance abuse n the jb and hw thers use affects thse wrkers n the jb. It will aid emplyees in recgnizing thers substance abuse prblems and present ptins fr dealing with c-wrkers, family members r friends in helping them mve tward reslving the prblem. In this segment, participants will learn: What is Healthcare Staffing s Drug-Free Wrkplace Plicy is and hw it can help prevent safety and health hazards The signs f when substance use is becming a safety hazard Hw and when t apprach an emplyee wh is under the influence When and hw it is apprpriate t invlve thers Surces f help fr c-wrkers, friends and family f an individual wh exhibits signs and symptms f a substance use disrder
Hw d yu recgnize when a c-wrker might have a prblem with alchl r drugs? Althugh n ne wants t believe that a c-wrker has a prblem with alchl r drugs, there needs t be a willingness t acknwledge any evidence f a prblem. Chances are everyne here knws r has encuntered smene wh either currently r in the past has had a prblem with alchl r drugs. Thugh sme f the signs may vary by drug f chice, what is bserved and experienced in interacting with such individuals is ften very similar. Think f smene yu ve knwn and/r wrked with wh yu suspect may have a substance prblem r actually turned ut t have a prblem. What is it like fr yu t try and wrk with that persn? Hw des it affect yur ability t d yur wrk r get the jb dne? What des it make yu think r feel? What are sme signs bth n and ff the jb that smene may have a substance abuse prblem?
Examples include: 1. Physical 3. Behaviral Chills Smell f Alchl Sweating Weight Lss Excessive talking Impaired Crdinatin Irritability Lack f energy Physical deteriratin Limited attentin span Pr mtivatin 2. Emtinal 4. Other Increased aggressin Anxiety Burnut Cntinual missed appintments Excessive and unexplained absences r days ff Brrwing mney Denial Depressin Parania Specific signs f when substance use is becming a safety hazard include: Creating mishaps spills, unlcked drs, and unsafe driving practices, being careless and repeatedly making mistakes. Damaging equipment r prperty. Being invlved in numerus accidents, regardless f whether that individual is the ne wh is injured. Displaying careless actins in the peratin and maintenance f
ptentially hazardus materials r dangerus equipment. Being unreliable such as nt being where he r she shuld be when thers must cunt n him r her. Shwing a lack f detail n perfrming rutine jb duties. ) Being unwilling t fllw directins and being argumentative. Giving elabrate, increasingly unbelievable excuses fr nt ding the jb r being where ne is suppsed t be. Being a slacker; nt carrying ne s lad. Being unrespnsive t usual cajling. Smetimes a cwrker just needs a little "peer pressure t cme arund, but wn t respnd t this if he/she is under the influence f a substance. Taking unnecessary risks. Disregarding safety fr self and thers. Remember that sme f these signs are indicatrs f ther situatins and/r prblems such as sleep deprivatin r depressin and may als be exhibited by smene wh may be living with a persn wh has a prblem with substances and, unwittingly, encuraging r enabling substance abuse. What rle d yu play by accepting behavir that is influenced by substances? It is imprtant that c-wrkers, as well as supervisrs and emplyers, nt tlerate unacceptable behavir by a wrker wh is misusing drugs r alchl. Smetimes, thugh, this is a very difficult thing t d. Often, it seems easier t try t ignre behavir than t d smething abut it. What are sme f the ways an emplyee unwittingly excuses such behavir and prevents r delays a persn with a prblem frm getting the help he r she needs? Examples include: Cvering up fr a persn s behavir by prviding alibis, making excuses r ding an impaired c-wrker s jb rather than letting it be knwn that he/she is nt ding his/her jb. Develping reasns why the persn s cntinued use is understandable r acceptable.
Aviding cntact with the persn with the prblem. Blaming neself fr the persn's cntinued use r getting angry at the individual fr nt trying hard enugh t cntrl his/her use r t get help. Trying t take respnsibility fr the persn's use by thrwing ut his/her drugs r cutting ff the supply. Making idle threats t take actin (fr example, turning the persn in), but nt fllwing thrugh when the persn cntinues t use the drug. What happens when smene makes excuses fr unacceptable behavir? Hw des it affect that persn? Often, he/she ends up feeling: Resentful fr having t take up the slack Angry...fr having safety cmprmised and well-being nt respected Frustrated because nthing is being dne t change the situatin Taken advantage f by the persn misusing alchl r drugs r by nt being prvided with a safe wrk envirnment Indifference abut the jb That his/her right t a safe wrkplace has been taken away Neither the actins f tlerating unacceptable behavir nr the feelings which are a result f tlerating such behavir make the wrkplace safer. In fact, these actins and feelings may d the ppsite by enabling the dangerus behavir t cntinue. Remember, it is the respnsibility f every emplyee, supervisr, and emplyer t be aware f their surrundings and t d what they can t make the wrk envirnment safe fr everyne.
When and hw d yu decide t d smething abut a c-wrker wh may be abusing substances? Wrkplace substance use and abuse shuld nt be taken lightly, especially in envirnments where c-wrkers rely n each ther fr safety. While supervisrs can cnfrnt wrkers whse drug use behavir affects their jb perfrmance, c-wrkers may be able t help befre this ccurs. They can d this n r ff the wrksite and emphasize the benefits f seeking help early. It is nt an emplyee s respnsibility t diagnse a substance prblem. It is his/her jb t OBSERVE behavir that is typical f smene abusing substances and t prtect himself/herself and c-wrkers. Ignring an bvius prblem nly allws it t cntinue. Thugh frmal steps such as ntifying a supervisr may eventually be necessary, a wrker may have mre influence than he r she thinks if a c-wrker is apprached in the right way. If a wrker suspects smene has a prblem, he/she can fllw these steps: 1. Identify with yur c-wrker; shw cncern fr the persn. Tell the persn yu have nticed a change in behavir and express yur cncern fr them and fr yur wn safety and the safety f all thers at the wrkplace. 2. Cnnect the behavir t the substance abuse r suspected substance abuse. 3. Urge the persn t get help and give infrmatin abut hw t get it (g t cunseling, family dctr, etc.) 4. Tell yur c-wrker yu will n lnger hide the substance abuse fr him r
her. D nt make idle threats. Be willing and able t fllw thrugh n yur threat, whether it is t stp cvering up r t turn him/her in r any ther threat yu have made. Be willing t "draw a line in the sand and hld firmly t that line. 5. Explain hw yur c-wrker s drug use affects yu and thers at wrk. 6. Recnfirm yur cncern fr yur c-wrker. Yu d nt need t get him/her t admit he/she has a substance prblem. Yu must stand yur grund with yur c-wrker, be cnsistent with yur actins and be willing t fllw thrugh n any threats yu make. D: Sme D s and Dn ts fr cnfrnting a c-wrker Cmmunicate clearly and hnestly Talk frm yur wn experiences Fcus n the facts and the specifics f the behavir and actins Present slutins Offer help Dn t: Take the abuser s drug use persnally. He r she is nt abusing drugs because f yu r smething yu may r may nt have dne. Get angry Be accusatry Blame the ther persn Criticize Be judgmental Humiliate Create win/lse situatins
Talk t ther c-wrkers abut yur cncern, as rumrs can be vicius. Rescue the abuser frm the cnsequences f substance abuse. Keep this in mind: Yu must be willing t draw a line with yur c-wrker and remain firm with that line. Yu must be willing t risk the lss f the friendship. Once a persn gets the help he r she needs, the friendship may return. Even if yu d all the right things, yu can t cunt n the persn changing. These actins can eventually lead the way and eliminate the risks f allwing behavir t cntinue, putting thers at risk. Yur safety and the safety f thers in the wrkplace is the mst imprtant thing t prtect. When and hw is it apprpriate t invlve thers? Yu may have cnfrnted yur c-wrker, friend r family member, yet that persn is still unwilling t accept r acknwledge there is a prblem. Then what? The time t d smething and invlve thers is when the substance abuser s behavir is such that it directly affects yu and yur ability t d yur jb r live yur life. When yu have dne all that yu think yu can, ne f yur first lines f defense is t understand what yur rganizatin s drug-free wrkplace plicy is. HCS has plicies and prgrams in place that prhibit alchl and drug use that might cmprmise the safety f their emplyees and prperty. Knw and understand that plicy. It may als dictate wh the best persn t invlve is, such as a supervisr, Human Resurces, r law enfrcement. If yur cncern is abut a c-wrker, check yur drug-free wrkplace plicy t determine wh within the rganizatin yu shuld talk with first. Once that is determined, prvide that persn with the infrmatin yu used initially t talk with yur c-wrker abut his r her substance prblem. That persn, usually a supervisr, but nt always, has mre ptins available t him r her thrugh the wrkplace t help yur c-wrker get assistance. Fr example, certain persnnel have the pwer t use wrk perfrmance (including failing t shw up, unexplained absences, inability t prperly perfrm jb functins, etc.) as a
means f getting smene help r be able t ffer anther surce f assistance. A friend r family member with a substance prblem can als influence an emplyee s safety r ability t d a jb. Often, a family member r friend wh is drinking r using drugs affects ne s ability t cncentrate and fcus n his r her jb. Substance use can result in financial prblems; marital prblems; parenting/ family prblems; depressin, anxiety r ther emtinal/behaviral prblems n the part f the drinker/user and/r the family member. It can als lead t physical r emtinal abuse. If it is a friend r family member yu are cncerned abut, yu may need t enlist prfessinal services f a trained substance abuse cunselr. There are many techniques that are pwerful in helping peple deal with substance prblems. Fr example, interventin is the prcess that cnfrnts the persn abusing a substance abut the severity f their disease. Family members wh influence that persn s life, and a trained prfessinal (cunselr/psychlgist/scial wrker), get tgether and present facts and infrmatin related t the chemically dependent persn s substance prblem and the cnsequences f the prblem. The prcess f interventin, which can take several weeks t prepare fr, is designed t break thrugh the dependent persn s denial and help him/her understand there is a substance prblem. Anther ptin fr yu is a supprt grup. These grups fr family and friends f peple with substance prblems help yu learn t live a healthier life thrugh maintaining apprpriate bundaries with that friend r family member. Examples include Al-Ann and Nar-Ann.
Surces f help There are several surces f help frm c-wrkers, family and friends wh may have a substance abuse prblem. Substance Abuse Treatment Lcatr Phne: (800) 662-HELP www.findtreatment.samhsa.gv This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin (SAMHSA) Web site and tll-free phne line help individuals lcate drug and alchl abuse treatment prgrams in their cmmunities. AlchlScreening.rg www.alchlscreening.rg This free, cnfidential Web site lets individuals privately assess their wn drinking habits and receive persnalized feedback t help them determine if they need help t change thse habits. Individuals can als find ut abut facilities in their cmmunities that ffer drug and alchl abuse treatment and cnsultatins with qualified health prfessinals regarding alchl prblems. Al-Ann/Alateen Phne: (888) 4AL-ANON www.al-ann.alateen.rg Al-Ann prvides infrmatin n the effects f alchl abuse and refers friends and families f alchl abusers t nearby supprt grups. Al-Ann s purpse is t help families and friends f alchlics recver frm the effects f living with the prblem drinking f a relative r friend. Alateen is the rganizatin s prgram fr yung peple whse lives have been affected by smene else's drinking. Alchlics Annymus (AA) www.aa.rg AA ffers a way t stp drinking t individuals wh feel they have a prblem with alchl. AA grups are lcated in mst cities and rural cmmunities thrughut the cuntry. Lk up "Alchlics Annymus in a lcal telephne directry fr a cntact in yur area. American Cuncil n Alchlism Phne: (800) 527-5344 www.aca-usa.rg
American Cuncil n Alchlism prvides referrals t alchlism treatment prgrams natinwide and distributes written materials n alchl abuse prblems. Ccaine Annymus Phne: (800) 347-8998 www.ca.rg Ccaine Annymus prvides supprt fr peple dependent n ccaine and ther mind-altering substances. Callers are referred t lcal helplines. Nar-Ann Phne: (800) 477-6291 www.nar-ann.rg Nar-Ann is a wrldwide prgram which prvides supprt fr friends and families f individuals with addictin r drug prblems. Fcus n Recvery Helpline Phne: (800) 234-0420 www.fcushealthcare.cm Fcus n Recvery is a helpline which prvides supprt and infrmatin fr recvering drug addicts thrugh referral t lcal helplines staffed by ther recvering addicts. Natinal Cuncil n Alchlism and Drug Dependence Hpeline Phne: (800) NCA-CALL www.ncadd.rg This rganizatin, a planning and versight agency fr public substance abuse treatment prgrams, prvides written infrmatin n alchl and drug abuse and referrals t treatment and cunseling services natinwide. Summary Substance use is NOT always substance abuse. Having an alchlic drink n a daily basis is nt cnsidered t be substance abuse. Having multiple alchlic drinks t the pint f drunkenness n a daily basis is substance abuse. Getting high befre wrk hurs r while n duty r at any time when effects f a substance carry ver t wrk hurs is substance abuse. Substance abuse can lead t addictin. Regardless f whether smene is an abuser r addict, any time a wrker is under the influence f a substance, he r she is a safety hazard. A wrker wh
is drug r alchl dependent can als be safety hazard, even if that persn is nt intxicated at wrk. In additin, if a c-wrker is distracted by a friend r family member wh may be abusing substances, he/she can be a safety hazard, a health hazard and can influence getting a jb dne. Be willing t shw yur cncern fr yur fellw emplyees, yur wrkplace and yurself. Help yur fellw wrkers get the help they need. It is the respnsibility f every wrker, supervisr and emplyer t be aware f their surrundings and t d what they can t make the wrk envirnment safe fr everyne. Implementing and enfrcing a drug-free wrkplace prgram is ne way t help prtect and assist emplyees in dealing with substance use as a safety hazard. Fr all f these reasns discussed, HCS has plicies in place t prhibit alchl abuse and drug use that might cmprmise safety f wrkplace peratins. Knw what yur drug-free wrkplace plicy is and help enfrce it. Cpyright 2012 Wrking Partners and SAPAA
Wrkplace Educatin Summary What Can I D? Read carefully and answer each statement as True r False. HCS has a Drug and Alchl Plicy and is a drug free wrkplace Drug abuse in the wrkplace is a safety and health hazard. It is acceptable t cver up fr a cwrker with an addictin prblem if they are currently in treatment. It is MY respnsibility t be aware f what is ccurring in the wrkplace and make the wrkplace safe fr everyne. If I am injured r cause r cntribute t the cause f an injury and refuse t submit, tamper with a test specimen r test psitive fr drugs r alchl, I will be subject t discipline up t and including discharge. My wrkers cmpensatin and unemplyment benefits culd als be affected accrding t Gergia Law. Emplyees and their dependents can cnfidentially cntact a substance abuse prfessinal t receive infrmatin fr help in vercming drug r alchl prblems. Failure t reprt drug use in the wrkplace places thers at risk. Substance use is nt always substance abuse. A cwrker wh displays signs f substance abuse n the jb may be exhibiting signs f anther prblem such as sleep deprivatin r depressin. If I have cncerns abut a cwrker s behavir in the wrkplace, I shuld reprt it t my supervisr r human resurces. Emplyee Signature Printed Date