Substance abuse is an extremely serious problem that plagues millions of people. But what is the best way to combat it? Combating substance abuse in the workplace can be particularly challenging. Job performance, company reputation, and employee safety are all crucial things to consider. But so too are things like an employee’s well-being while dealing with addiction, and their ability to recover.

Recent changes in how we think about substance abuse have led to changes in how companies implement substance abuse policies. Taking a collaborative approach when tackling substance abuse is now the preferred method for many organizations. But what exactly does this mean?

What is Substance Abuse?

When discussing the best ways to approach this problem at work, it helps first to define “substance abuse.” It can be defined as the excessive use of drugs, regardless of whether those substances are legal or illegal. For instance, alcohol is a legal substance that can be abused. Prescription medications can also be abused if used for purposes other than their intended purpose.

Substance abuse can also turn into addiction when an individual becomes physiologically dependent on the substance and its side effects.

What is Collaborative Substance Abuse Treatment?

Several years ago, workplace policies placed a much heavier emphasis on monitoring and punishing employees. Under this approach, employees would be tested for illegal substances and often faced penalties, including loss of job, for a positive test. At the same time, these policies did little or nothing to monitor the use of legal substances like alcohol or prescription drugs.

Policies like this can be difficult to implement and can be a deterrent to worker morale. While maintaining a safe and drug-free environment should always be a top priority, there are better methods for maintaining such environments. Collaborative approaches have begun to be favored in many workplaces in recent years.

In a collaborative approach, companies and their employees work together to maintain a drug-free environment. This approach is focused more on preventing workers from being under the influence of substances while at work. This still emphasizes worker safety and job performance. But the process feels less invasive for workers, without sacrificing a happy and productive work environment.

How to Implement Collaborative Treatment

So how can your company implement a collaborative approach to prevention? The first step is to provide a clear policy about workplace substance abuse and being under the influence at work. A transparent drug policy provides protection for the company and guidance for employees.

Another key to establishing a collaborative approach is offering employees a path to recovery if they are struggling with substance abuse. Some addiction recovery programs may be covered by company health insurance plans. For instance, providing workers access to sessions with a counselor can make a huge difference in their recovery.

Under older policies, workers might instead face termination and have no clear path to recovery, in addition to losing their income. Such policies only serve to heighten the cycle of addiction that makes substance abuse so challenging to overcome.

Drug Policies and Drug Testing with Soteria

A collaborative approach to addressing substance abuse relies on honesty and transparency. For many organizations, drug testing remains a crucial part of their drug policy. Having tests you can trust to provide accurate results is critical to maintaining the trust and well-being of your employees.

That is where Soteria Screening Labs can help. Soteria offers a wide range of drug tests, including 5 and 10-panel tests. Consider ordering a test today if you are looking for the most reliable drug testing available.