It strikes me that when the health and well-being of employees is talked about, seldom are drugs (and remember I include alcohol in that) discussed. Now stress is being reported as being a key factor to absence from the workplace, particularly during challenging economic times, I come back to the lack of mention about drugs. There are so many areas where there could be a link.
Stress and anxiety can lead to people being prescribed medicines (drugs) to manage their illness. Whilst the majority of people complete their medication and are able to return to work, there are some who may develop a psychological dependency on their medication.Even some day to day over the counter painkillers carry warnings about the risk of dependency, if used over a long period of time.
Stress can be caused by events at home, which may be linked to a family member’s substance use. Someone I know had a partner who would misuse Valium (Diazepam) and illegal substances. She had to go in to work having had no sleep, because her partner had kept her up all night. She didn’t feel able to tell her line manager about the issues at home. As a consequence she was signed off work with stress.
Stress can lead to people using substances, for example alcohol, to combat the stressful situations they feel they are experiencing. How many of us have finished a day at work and said, ‘I really need a drink to unwind’?
I am not generalising because everyone is different, but wish to highlight there are possible links with stress and substance misuse. I am a strong believer that when the health and well-being of staff is considered, so too, should be the potential impact that substance misuse can have on an individual, their family and the workplace.
