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D&A Testing and Wellness Programs Make a Nice Fit

Drug and alcohol testing is one step in a multilevel approach of health promotion and

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risk reduction. Though some employees may choose to view random testing programs as punitive, testing’s ultimate goals are to contribute to the prevention of workplace substance abuse, reinforce the idea of a substance-free facility, and help drug and alcohol users get on the path to a healthy lifestyle by identifying those who need counselling. Accomplishing these goals will naturally lead to significant reduction of the risk of employee injuries or death. Despite a national harm minimisation approach to substance abuse, there are plenty of people who still consider drug and alcohol testing as punitive rather than supportive. Changing that perspective is not always easy, but one of the most effective ways is making D&A testing a component of a workplace wellness program.

More than 10 million Australians spend at least eight hours in the workplace each day of work, making it the natural place to address healthy lifestyles. Both employees and employers benefit from wellness programs. Employees become more aware of what making healthy choices entails, experience an increase in well-being, live a healthier lifestyle, and feel a greater sense of job satisfaction. Employers will see greater employee productivity, reduced absenteeism, lower workmen’s compensation claims, improved business image and reputation, and enhanced employee engagement. When drug and alcohol testing is presented as a step that contributes to these goals, it is much more likely it will be accepted as a positive action.1

Natural Fit

Workplace wellness programs typically include education on nutrition, stress management, exercise, and changing unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and using illicit substances. Notice the drug and alcohol program naturally fits naturally within the wellness program. There are many advantages to this approach. Since the D&A testing is part of a program that conveys numerous benefits to employees, it shows real employer commitment to workplace health. Employees are much more likely to connect the goal of a substance free workplace to a healthy lifestyle. In addition, employees take a proactive approach to health, which means they also are learning to take a proactive approach to drug and alcohol use.

Developing a wellness culture promotes a substance free workplace and vice-versa. A wellness program also teaches people to take responsibility for their own health, which is also clearly one of the purposes of a drug and alcohol policy. There is a growing rate of chronic disease development in Australia, and using drugs and alcohol only exacerbates the problem. Chronic disease accounts for almost 80 percent of all diseases and injuries in Australia and include cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, respiratory, and mental.2 Regular use of drugs and alcohol can contribute to each one of these chronic diseases.

In addition, wellness programs in the workplace are designed to bring health front and centre as employee make choices in their work and personal lives. They serve as a platform for addressing anything connected to health and safety, so once again drug and alcohol policies and testing enter the picture. The strong link between drug use or alcohol consumption and workplace injuries and mental health issues reflects the equally strong link between D&A testing and wellness programs.

The Larger Health Perspective

One of the main advantages of including drug and alcohol programs as a component of a larger wellness program is that it takes the “punishment” characteristic out of the testing program and adds “reward”. Instead, the D&A program is encapsulated in the wellness program in a way that enables employers to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse to personal and co-worker health and safety but without creating an atmosphere of intimidation.

Sometimes it may seem like employers have to maintain a fine balance between a safe workplace and acting as an enforcer. Mediscreen (mediscreen.net.au) is experienced in connecting drug and alcohol screening services to workplace health and wellness programs. Employers will appreciate Mediscreen’s valuable services and advice on ideal approaches to establishing D&A testing as a component of a larger wellness program.

References

  1.  Julie Anne Mitchel, Barbara Eden, Scott Dunn, et. al. (2011). Workplace Wellness – Healthy Workplace Guide. Retrieved from Heart Foundation-Cancer Council NSW-PANORG: http://bit.ly/19caf9X
  2. PriceWatherhouseCoopers. (2010). Workplace wellness in Australia – Aligning action with aims: Optimising the benefits of workplace wellness. Retrieved from University of the Sunshine Coast – Queensland, Australia: http://bit.ly/19JDEJh
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