Alcohol and drug misuse are major issues for employers in the UK and can cause problems for employers, the alcohol or drug user and their work colleagues as well. Workplace policies, provision of education, training and procedures for referring employees to specialist services are effective ways for organisations to prevent or manage these problems. This factsheet explains terminology, and the types and effects of substances that are commonly misused. The most commonly misused drugs are those that change the user s mood, the way that they feel or perceive their surroundings.
Misuse usually refers to use that creates problems or harm, either for the individual or others.
Its meaning could include using drugs or drinking in a way that adversely affects health, both physical and psychological, results in law-breaking, or the use of prescribed drugs in a way other than that intended by the prescriber. The term substance misuse is often used rather than addiction or alcoholism - these can evoke unhelpful images of stereotypical drinkers or drug users rather than reflecting the wide range of alcohol or drug problems that people can experience. When a substance is used regularly, a tolerance can develop when the body becomes accustomed to it. This means that the user may find that increasing amounts of the substance are needed to create the same effect. This is when alcohol or drugs become an individual s dominant concern to the detriment of other aspects of their life.