There are two terms used when referring to drug use – recreational and problematic. However, problematic drug use is an inclusive term in that it 
can refer to either recreational or dependent drug behaviours. The frequency of the drug taking does not determine whether it is problematic. It is the impact of the drugs on the user that is most important, and impacts can be physical, psychological, financial, social or legal. In other words, if a person uses drugs and experiences problems, it becomes problematic.
That may seem obvious, but there is ongoing discussion about whether weekend or after hours drug use is of concern to Australian employers. People have personal lives and are entitled to privacy. However, there is growing recognition that drug harms or impacts are of concern to everyone – drug users, community members, and employers. If recreational drug use on a weekend causes problems, it is as problematic as drugs used during the day in the workplace. For example, long-term use of cocaine can lead to heart problems, severe depression, and cocaine psychosis.1 Someone regularly using cocaine on weekends or after work can easily be experiencing the associated harms whilst at work.
The Long Hangover
Australia is frustratingly trying to deal with the influx of drugs into the country and growing use of recognised illicit drugs and synthetic drugs. The country spends more than $1.1 billion annually on enforcing the drug laws, $361 million on treatment, and $36 million on harm reduction.2 Treatment is mostly provided to people who have severe substance dependence. Recreational drug users continue to use drugs until their dependence grows and they obviously need help or until they are arrested by law enforcement.
Even irregular drug and alcohol use can lead to safety issues in the workplace. An alcohol induced hangover can slow physical reactions, impair the ability to concentrate, lead to poor judgement, and negatively affect mood. Not everyone recovers quickly from a hangover. In fact, it may be surprising to learn that hangovers can last as long as 72 hours for some people. A major factor is the body weight and gender of the drinker. A weekend binge can impair a worker’s mental and physical functioning well into Tuesday. What many people do not understand is that, even after alcohol blood levels return to zero after a binge drinking session, people will continue to experience problems with manual dexterity, attention, reaction time, and visual-spatial skills.3
The Right Focus
Employers are not interested in violating the privacy of workers. They are interested in maintaining a healthy and safe workplace. Some would argue that recreational drug use is of no concern to the employer. Given increasing medical evidence about the enduring impacts of drugs and alcohol on the body and mind, it is clear that drugs and alcohol have more severe consequences on the human body than we have understood in the past. Therefore, recreational drug and alcohol use can be as problematic as substance abuse during work hours.
Mediscreen (http://mediscreen.net.au/) works with employers to ensure drug testing is efficiently deployed to meet workplace needs. The cost effective program can be adapted to budgets and locations.
References
1 Better Health Channel. (2013, July 31). Cocaine. Retrieved from Better Health Channel – Victoria Government: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cocaine
2 Amy Corderoy. (2013, June 22). Leading the pack on recreational drugs. Retrieved from The Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/leading-the-pack-on-recreational-drugs-20130621-2onxq.html
3 Hangover Headache. (n.d.). Retrieved from Johns Hopkins Medicine – Neurology and Neurosurgery: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/headache/conditions/hangover_headache.html#a1
