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Substance Abuse in the Workplace Is a Safety Hazard
Human resources experts say that employers need to be more aware of the hazards caused by substance abuse on the job.
They argue that, contrary to certain stereotypes, many substance abusers are employed.
Common substances that can pose safety hazards include sedatives, sleeping pills, and alcohol as well as illegal drugs because they affect reflexes, reaction time, concentration, perception, and judgment.
Regardless of the substance being abused, the first step to preventing workplace accidents caused by drug use is recognizing some of the signs of addiction such as frequent absences or late arrivals, poor concentration or coordination, slow mental and physical reflexes, nervousness or paranoia, defensive or argumentative behaviors, impaired judgment and decision making, mood swings, forgetfulness, carelessness, and bizarre or violent behavior.
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