Byproducts include increased absenteeism, health problems, accidents, thefts and higher insurance claims. For example, insurance costs for employees with alcohol problems are about twice that of other employees. Once business leaders become aware of substance abuse among employees, the response is often to fire them. In fact, some of the best and most effective programs for substance abuse occur in the workplace. I would be negligent if I did not emphasize the morbidity and mortality rates associated with tobacco - more than for all other psychoactive substances combines.
Smoking is also the single greatest cause of cancer mortality.
It is a major cause of emphysema and a major contributor to oral, esophageal and many other kinds of cancers. It also turns out that cigarettes are not only a major contributor to heart disease, but that about 3,000 individuals a year die of the consequences of second hand smoke. In the U.S., about one third of employees are smokers. The Food and Drug Administration is dealing with regulating tobacco use in our society. One of the reasons that they are focusing on this is the rising curve of tobacco addiction among adolescents.