Did you know that alcohol is the most common drug Australians seek treatment for?

While alcohol consumption is a large part of many cultures, including Australians, it can have a number of negative side effects when exploited.

Alcohol doesn’t need to be consumed on a worksite to have an effect on an organisation. In fact, prolonged exposure can:

• Affect the physical and mental health of employees, leaders and stakeholders
• Impact a sufferer’s income due to absence, dismissal or impairment
• Deteriorate behaviour and mental health.

In a broader sense, around 1 in 20 Australians suffer from a substance addiction – the most common being cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and meth/amphetamines.

Similarly, the use of drugs can:

• Impair judgement and mental state – sometimes fostering anxiety, depression and delusion
• Create extreme fatigue
• Physically impact the sufferer and increase the risk of accidents.

This is why drug and alcohol testing for any workplace, especially physical labour, is paramount for company safety.