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Drugs - Marijuana Dangers

The Dangers of Marijuana
Trouble in The Workplace

Industrial Accidents
American businesses are always looking for ways to sustain and increase profits. Workers who use marijuana cut into these profits. According to a leading medical journal, marijuana users had 55% more industrial accidents than non-users.(1)

Injuries
Injuries cost businesses money through increased workers' compensation claims and insurance costs. One study found that marijuana users had 85% more injuries at work than non-users.(1) When safety comes first, ensuring that workers do not use marijuana is an important step.

Absenteeism
In order for businesses to work, employees must show up to work. Marijuana users have been shown to have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users.(1) Absent workers mean lower productivity.

Disciplinary Problems
 In the same study, workers who tested positive for marijuana use had disciplinary problems at work 64% more often than workers who tested negative for marijuana.(1)

Cognitive Skills
 Marijuana decreases motor skills, concentration and coordination. Accidents may result from a distortion of time and space relationships. Users may experience shifting sensory imagery, impaired memory, and a dulling of attention despite an illusion of heightened insight. Occasionally, an altered sense of self-identity and paranoia are reported.(2)

Transportation
 The highways, railways, air routes and waterways of America are a vital part of the business infrastructure. They can also be dangerous. Businesses with marijuana-impaired operators take a greater chance of causing injury to themselves, their shipments, and the traveling public. Accident records from one study showed that up to 12% of non-fatally injured drivers and up to 16% of fatally injured drivers had marijuana in their bloodstreams.(3)

#1 Illegal Drug = Marijuana
 Among the more than 2 million employees tested for drugs in the first half of 1999, the most widespread illegal drug detected was marijuana, at 3.3%.(4) This rate is from drug tests of people who knew that they were subject to testing. Another study showed that 8% of employees had smoked marijuana in the past year.(3)

Who Works? Who Uses?
 Two-thirds of drug users are employed. Of these, half are full-time employees. More drug users are employed full time than part time. Nationwide, almost 10% of employees use drugs in the workplace!(5)

Insurance Costs
 Drug using employees have 300% higher medical costs and benefits which consequently increases insurance rates. Illicit drug users are 5 times more likely to file a claim under workers' compensation benefits.(5)

Workplace Laws
 Why have a drug-free workplace? A good reason is that the law might require it in your business! If you are in the transportation industry, or if you are billing Uncle Sam for more than $25K in any year, or if you are a government organization, the law requires that you have a drug-free workplace.(7) Better business is an even better reason.

Job Performance
 The behavior of marijuana-smoking employees is associated with negative attitudes toward work and job performance. Surveys have found that marijuana users were less likely to commit to the organization, had lower job satisfaction, and had higher job turnover rates. The data indicates that marijuana use is strongly associated with poor workplace performance.(3)

References

  1. Zwerling and Associates. Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 264; pp. 2639-2643. 1990.
  2. U.S. Dept of Justice. Drugs of Abuse. 1996 Edition. As cited at: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/contents.htm.
  3. Mathias, R. "Marijuana Impairs Driving-Related Skills and Workplace Performance." NIDA Notes. Jan./Feb. 1996.
  4. Quest Diagnostics. "Drug Testing Index." As cited at: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/corporatehealth/news/dti.htm.
  5. SmithKline Beecham Healthcare Services. "Substance Abuse in the Workplace II." Balanced Health Report. Dec. 1996. Vol. 4., No. 3. As cited at:
    http://www.sb.com/corporatehealth/b_h_news/dec96/index.htm. 1996.
  6. U.S. Dept. of Labor. "Facts and Figures about Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace." As cited at: http://www.dol.gov/dol/asp/public/programs/drugs/facts.htm.
  7. Drew, Daniel C., M.D. Drug Free Workplace: Training and Operations Manual. "Nationwide Medical Review." As cited at: http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/employees/americasdrugproblem.htm.

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