Workers’ worry

Employees with substance abuse problems avoid help for fear of losing jobs By Marlon Madden Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams says the Government will consider developing a workplace policy on drug use for the public sector while hinting that a similar policy for the private sector would follow. He gave this indication on Wednesday, in light of the findings and recommendations from a National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) workplace survey report on Perceptions of Public Workers on Drug Policies, Knowledge About Drugs and Drug Intervention Services. The survey, which targeted nine departments that fall under Abrahams’ ministry, found that most workers strongly agreed that a workplace policy on drug use was essential, but equally, a high number of those surveyed indicated they would fear losing their jobs if they disclosed any substance use problem. Among the recommendations were a standardised workplace drug policy on drug testing; promotion of non-punitive approaches to drug policies that facilitate recovery-friendly workplaces; policies that emphasise confidentiality; development of a comprehensive health programme that includes alcohol and drug education; and treatment interventions and greater support for drug prevention efforts. The findings of the pilot study which was carried out between January and March 2022 were released on Wednesday at the NCSA’s Belleville, St Michael office. Abrahams assured he would pay close attention to the findings and recommendations, though saying that subsequent and more widespread research was needed to help inform policies, programmes and solutions. “Once that is done, I have no difficulty in moving very quickly to ensure that the appropriate programmes, policies, policy direction and protocols are put in place to control that in the public sector, and I also will not stop there because, quite frankly, it affects us all,” the minister said. “We have the parameters that have been set and I am putting the challenge to you [the NCSA] to come back in short order with more results and more accurate information, and we will then do what we have to do because we need to take this matter in hand.” Abrahams noted that the data was important to create the necessary programmes to help people who misuse drugs find their way back to a healthy lifestyle. “It is also important to implement these programmes in an atmosphere free of judgement and harassment, within a balanced structure that addresses the key issues and offers practical and effective tools to ensure that employees maintain or regain good health, without abusing drugs,” he said. Declaring that the time had come for society to have an honest conversation about drug use and the workplace, he expressed concern that during the Crop Over festival, many workers were overindulging in alcohol, often resulting in loss of productivity. “People will come [to work] in the Crop Over season and they can barely keep their eyes open and they tell you how blind [drunk] they got last night. They may say ‘I don’t recover as quickly as I did when I was younger but I here at work’. Don’t mind you are here at work but you can’t function and if you [are] here at work driving a forklift, you are putting other people’s life at risk,” he said. “The cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairment that results from drug or alcohol and substance use can affect productivity, morale and even the safety of workers.” Manager at the NCSA Betty Hunte said the organisation is in the process of revamping a proposed national drug plan. “And we hope . . . when that is buttressed with other surveys, once we have enough credible evidence, that is when we will be asking the minister to get involved and incorporate that in existing policies or if there is a need to build out a stand-alone policy on drug use in the workplace,” added Hunte. Presenting the findings and recommendations from the survey, NCSA Research and Information Officer Johnathan Yearwood said businesses had a strategic role to play in helping to reduce substance abuse among workers. He said employers could provide health education about alcohol and drugs and identify and refer individuals who have alcohol and drug problems to treatment facilities. The survey found that 92 per cent of respondents believed that a workplace policy on drug use was essential, with only three per cent saying not, while five per cent said they neither agree nor disagree. Fifty per cent of respondents said they would be scared or anxious about losing their job if they disclosed that they had a substance use problem. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of respondents said they were confident that their workplace would support employees with substance abuse problems. Just over half (66 per cent) of those surveyed said they knew where to seek help at work if they thought they needed help for substance abuse. The survey revealed that while employees believed there was adequate information on alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, they could not say the same for cocaine, opioids, methamphetamines and amphetamine. Some 304 workers were randomly picked from a pool of 1 624 workers in the nine departments, and only 72 completed the survey. Just over 100 people started the survey but did not complete it. Yearwood explained that the numbers fell within the acceptable range of 24 per cent or more for an online survey. He attributed the low participation rate to the survey being online, the COVID-19 pandemic and participants’ general scepticism. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb]]>