Addiction in the Workplace

I'm an employer. Where can I find information about addiction in the workplace?

Drug and alcohol addiction among workers costs American businesses billions of dollars annually due to reduced productivity and increased health care costs. To find out how much it is costing your business visit the George Washington University Medical Center's Alcohol Cost Calculator for Business.

Other recommended employer resources for addiction in the workplace include:

• Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug-free Workplace strives to build a drug-free workforce by equipping businesses and communities with tools and information to effectively address drug and alcohol problems.
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provides guidelines for a drug-free workforce.
• SAMHSA's Division of Workplace Programs provides information about testing technologies, products, and services. You can call the toll-free workplace helpline at: 1-800-Workplace (967-5752)

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I think one of my fellow employees has an alcohol or drug addiction. What should I do?

Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems provides information on what concerned citizens can do about alcohol addiction in the workplace.

Health insurers should be required to recognize addiction as a disease and to provide coverage for treating alcohol and drug addiction that is equal to coverage for other chronic diseases. Reform is necessary in order to improve access to appropriate and adequate addiction treatment. For more information on this topic, visit our Key Issues page on equal treatment coverage.

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