The Impact of Psychoactive Substances on Work: The Key Figures Managers and HR Need to Know

A recent survey highlights the impact of psychoactive substances on the professional environment. Carried out among managers, HR managers and staff representatives, this study provides crucial data.

The Substances in Question:

• Alcohol : The most widely cited product, mentioned by a majority of respondents.
• Tobacco : The second most consumed product in the professional world.
• Cannabis (THC) : Consumed by 10% of employees according to managers and HR managers.

The Consequences on Work:

• Efficiency and Quality of Work : 64% of managers mention a drop in efficiency at work due to alcohol, and 63% speak of a drop in the quality of work.
• Health and Safety : 56% of managers are concerned about the risks of accidents or occupational illnesses.
• Absenteeism and Lateness : 56% of managers report problems with absenteeism and lateness.

Current Solutions:

• Individual Approach : 85% of managers and HR managers use individual solutions.
• Dialogue with Employees : 69% favor seeking dialogue with employees.
• Use of the Occupational Doctor : 65% call on the occupational doctor, this figure rises to 71% in the public sector.

Individual and Collective Measures

The study indicates that measures taken to manage problems related to the use of psychoactive substances are often both individual (85%) and collective (82%).

• Individual Measures : Drug testing can be used in a targeted manner for specific employees who show signs of substance use. This can be particularly helpful for businesses looking to address the issue in a discreet and individualized way, without stigmatizing entire staff.

• Collective Measures : On the other hand, screening tests can also be used more generally, for example during random checks within the company. This can serve to deter substance use and maintain a safe and productive work environment.

• Public Sector : The occupational physician is used in 71% of public organizations. The measures taken at the collective level are more important in the public sector (88%), and they are mainly based on preventive actions.

• Private Sector : The occupational doctor is used in 58% of private companies. Disciplinary measures are more important in the private sector (49% vs. 29% in the public sector).

Dialogue with Employees

More than two thirds (69%) of managers, supervisors and HR staff favor the search for dialogue with the employee. Screening tests could be presented as a way to open this dialogue in a more objective and evidence-based way.

Conclusion: Why screening tests are essential in preventing occupational risks linked to psychoactive substances

The recent study by the French Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction offers us valuable insight into the problem of psychoactive substances in the professional environment. It highlights the concern of managers and HR managers about the impact of these substances on the quality of work, safety and health of employees.

The limits of current measures

Although measures are already in place in many companies, including prevention actions and consultations with the occupational doctor, the study reveals that only 15% of companies use "official screening". This gap clearly indicates an unmet need for prevention.

The Importance of Screening

In this context, saliva and urine drug screening tests present themselves as an essential complementary solution. Not only do they provide objective data that can help assess the extent of the problem, but they can also serve as a tool for dialogue between employers and employees.

Towards more effective prevention

Screening tests can be integrated into a more global prevention strategy, which includes both individual and collective measures. They can also be particularly useful in sectors where accident risks are high, providing increased safety for everyone.

In summary

The consumption of psychoactive substances in the workplace is a reality that companies can no longer ignore. Screening tests are not only a means of control, but a prevention and dialogue tool that can help create a safer and healthier work environment for everyone.

Source :

• Title: Survey on the impact of psychoactive substance consumption on work
• Published by: French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT)