Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
SSINS No.: 6835
Accession No.:
8202040104
IN 82-05
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
March 10, 1982
Information Notice No. 82-05: INCREASING FREQUENCY OF DRUG-RELATED
INCIDENTS
Description of Circumstances:
Based on data reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and either
published or to be published in the Safeguards Summary Event List (NUREG-
0525), the number of drug-related incidents in which licensee or contractor
employees were arrested or terminated has increased dramatically in the past
year. During the last 5 years, the increasing trend is as follows: two in
1977; none in 1978; one in 1979; five in 1980; and twelve in 1981. Thus far
in 1982, Regional Preliminary Notifications dealing with at least four new
drug-related incidents have been issued. The reported incidents implicate a
range of licensee or contractor personnel, including personnel in
construction, operations and security. The reported incidents are
widespread geographically, and involve power reactor sites in each of the
five NRC regions.
Reported incidents have involved both onsite use or possession of drugs and
personnel reporting to work under the influence of controlled substances.
Marijuana was the most frequently reported controlled substance involved in
these events; however, incidents involving amphetamines, cocaine, hashish,
phencyclidine and methaqualone have also been reported.
Given the alarming increase in reported drug-related incidents, the wide
range of personnel implicated, and the pervasiveness of the reports on a
national basis, the Office of Inspection and Enforcement (IE) has
established a Drug Abuse Task Force to address the problem on a generic
basis. IE has given top priority to the prompt and effective development of
a generic approach to the problem of possible drug (including alcohol) abuse
by licensee or contractor personnel. As such, IE solicits relevant licensee
experience in this undertaking. Teams from the Task Force are presently
gathering information in a series of visits to selected licensees to discuss
the drug problem and possible generic approaches that would best address the
problem.
The Task Force is also collaborating with other members of the NRC staff to
explore several regulatory approaches to the drug problem. The information
obtained from the series of utility visits will be factored into the results
of the inter-office efforts.
This information notice is provided as an early notification of a
potentially significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review
the information for applicability to their facilities. No specific action
or response is required at this time. If you have any questions regarding
this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator or the appropriate
NRC Regional Office.
Attachment:
Recently issued IE Information Notices
