For Employers


Substance abuse in the workplace 
 

Employee substance abuse can affect an employer’s bottom line:

  • Low productivity

  • Workplace injuries

  • Low employee morale

  • Employee illnesses

  • Poor company image

    •  

 
Business People  Two men at a construction site.  Medical professionals
 
What can employers do?
§        Create a substance abuse policy for the workplace. Maine Office of Substance Abuse's Work Alert will walk you through the steps of developing a drug-free workplace policy for your business using an online policy builder.  
 
Work Alert
 
§        Implement workplace substance abuse prevention programs. These programs help lower recruitment and training costs, worker’s compensation costs and result in fewer work related accidents. For every dollar spent in preventing illicit drug use, there is a fifteen-dollar savings in dealing with the consequences of drug use and addiction. 
o       Your local Healthy Maine Partnership can offer assistance in starting or developing a worksite wellness program. 
 
 
§        Provide information about substance abuse and addiction through pamphlets and posters. Resources are available through Healthy Maine Partnerships, the Maine Office of Substance Abuse Information and Resource Center and the SAMHSA Clearinghouse on Drug and Alcohol Information. 
§        Provide linkages within the company and in the community that the employees may seek out for assistance or support. 
 
Information and Resources: