How to spot substance abuse in the workplace

Terry Elvin, Intelligent Fingerprinting

With over a fifth of people aged 16 to 24 admitting to drug use¹, being able to quickly recognise the signs and symptoms of substance abuse is an essential skill for employers and managers in order to safeguard the health and safety of employees, customers and the general public, as well as the reputation of their businesses. Side effects can vary greatly between different drugs and in this blog I look at the four main drug groups (cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and opiates) and highlight the most common signs to spot if one of your employees or colleagues is abusing them.

Cocaine

Cocaine is rapidly becoming one of the most commonly used drugs on the planet. Incredibly addictive, cocaine increases the production of dopamine in the brain, creating a feeling of euphoria in the user. When the effects of the drug begin to wear off the user craves the euphoric feeling produced by the drug and can very soon become addicted.

Most commonly snorted, cocaine can also be smoked or taken intravenously. Here are some of the key behaviours to spot if someone’s taking cocaine:

Can become agitated easily
Overly enthusiastic
Hyperactivity
Disinhibition
Common cold-like symptoms, sniffing
Increase in nosebleeds
Muscle tics and other involuntary movements
Changes in concentration and focus

Cannabis

Cannabis is derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant and other closely related plants often referred to as hemp. Known by many names (such as marijuana, pot, weed, grass, hash and ganja) cannabis is the most used drug globally.

In the UK, cannabis is still an illegal, Class B substance but despite this 6.2% of the population² admit to using the drug in one form or another. With such a high usage rate, it’s possible that someone in your workforce is abusing this common drug.

How can you spot the signs of someone under the influence of cannabis?

Very relaxed, even in stressful situations
Drowsiness
Bloodshot eyes
Impaired memory
Increased appetite
Paranoia
Slowed reflexes
Altered sense of time

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are stimulant drugs, including methamphetamine, that cause heightened levels of energy and alertness. They do this by amplifying the activity of certain neuro-signalling molecules in the brain. Depending on the specific drug type, they come in several forms: tablets, powder, paste and crystals. They may be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected.

Interestingly, not all amphetamines or stimulants are illegal, many are used in the treatment of conditions such as ADHD with medications including Adderall and Ritalin.

The effects of amphetamines will vary depending on the specific substance being used. However, the dangers are the same for all and can be fatal. Spotting the signs of a stimulants abuser can be the difference between life and death.

Symptoms to look out for:

Significant weight loss
Extreme exhaustion
Breathlessness
Paranoia
Delusions
Hallucinations
Extreme anxiety
Depression
Tremors and loss of muscle control
Seizures

Opiates

Opiates, such as heroin, are often considered to be one of the most dangerous and addictive drug groups. The substance comes from opium found in the poppy plant.

Often available as a white or golden-brown powder, it is also sold as a black sticky substance (tar heroin) or solid black chunks. These forms of heroin can be smoked, snorted or injected.

Regardless of how this drug is consumed, the effects take over extremely quickly, with users experiencing ‘the rush’ within just a few minutes. As with all illicit drugs, managing the strength, purity and dosage levels is extremely difficult and overdosing on heroin is a very real and life-threatening side-effect.

How can you spot someone using heroin in your workplace?

Symptoms and signs of heroin abuse will vary depending on how much, how often and how long the individual has been using it for:

Immediate symptoms:

Nausea
Vomiting
Itching and scratching of the skin
Dry mouth

Delayed symptoms:

Drowsiness
Having a foggy mental state
Slowed breathing
Nodding off – where the user will go in and out of sleep

Signs of long-term abuse:

Needle marks and bruising on injection sites
Skin irritations, abscesses and infections

Minimising Risk

It’s easy to think that substance abuse in the workplace is uncommon and not something that your employees or colleagues would be affected by. However, we know from the stats that drug use is prevalent amongst people of all ages and from all socio-economic groups. This means it’s important in all workplace environments to educate and empower your team to know how to spot and report any behaviour that could point to drug use.

An active workplace drug testing policy can play a vital role in helping to identify drug misuse by employees and, beyond the obvious safety aspects, it can have additional benefits for a business and its staff. Absenteeism and compromised productivity can be reduced, while organisations can also take steps to support employees with drug problems to help them get the treatment they need.

Simpler Drug Testing

Here at Intelligent Fingerprinting, we’ve developed a quick and hygienic fingerprint-based drug test that can support all your workplace drug screening requirements including pre-employment screens, random and regular testing and post-incident investigations. It’s an easy-to-use and portable system that can be used anytime, almost anywhere to screen for drug use by collecting and analysing fingerprint sweat. Sample collection takes less than a minute, with on-the-spot results in just ten minutes. We can also help you develop or update your workplace drug policy and provide drug awareness training.

Visit our website to find out more about our revolutionary fingerprint drug test or get in touch to arrange a free, no-obligation demo (online or in-person).

Please note that the information contained in this blog is intended to provide an introduction to recognising signs of possible drug use and is not an exhaustive list. For more detailed information and advice visit the FRANK website or NHS Choices.

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How to spot substance abuse in the workplace