Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace reminds everyone that April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. The campaign presents a prime opportunity for employers, unions and other organizations to educate workers about the dangers of alcohol abuse--both on and off the job--and to promote resources available to help those struggling with alcohol problems.
For example, organizations can organize onsite training sessions, guest speakers or brown-bag lunches focused on the topic of alcohol. A variety of related brochures, posters and fact sheets are available through the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information to support such efforts or for dissemination to employees through other channels, such as employee newsletters or worksite displays.
National Alcohol Awareness Month also is an excellent time to remind employees about Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or Member Assistance Program (MAP) services, if available. Such programs offer free, confidential services to help all employees resolve personal problems, such as alcohol abuse, that may be affecting their work performance.
Organizations also can offer employees the opportunity to privately assess how alcohol may be affecting the way they live and work. For example, they can inform employees about confidential, self-administered online screening tools and make sure all employees have access to the Internet in a private location if they wish to use them. Examples include Alcohol Screening.org, a service of Join Together, a program of Boston University’s School of Public Health, and GetFit.SAMHSA.Gov, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Web site.
Even if screenings are not offered, organizations can educate employees about community resources that can help someone struggling with alcohol abuse. Help is likely available nearby through a hospital, local health department or stand-alone Substance Abuse Treatment Center. Also, self-help programs, such as the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, are free and available nationwide.
Employers and unions have a vested interest in helping to prevent worker alcohol abuse and supporting individuals with alcohol problems. Alcohol can significantly impair a worker’s judgment and coordination, leading to an increased risk of on-the-job accidents and injuries. It can also lead to lower levels of productivity and employee morale—not only that of those with alcohol problems, but also those working alongside them.
Organizations interested in learning about how they can minimize the risks of worker alcohol use can visit the following Web sites:
Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, a program of The George Washington University Medical Center that provides research-based information on effective alcohol treatment and the barriers many people face when they seek help for a drinking problem.
Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace, a U.S. Department of Labor initiative that helps employers create drug-free workplace programs that educate about the dangers of alcohol and encourage individuals with alcohol problems to seek help.
