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Detecting Workplace Substance Abuse

Supervisors need to be alert to patterns of employee job performance deterioration,

 physical signs, and behavioral characteristics that may signal a worker with a substance

abuse problem. The following checklist, developed by the Louisiana Workers’

Compensation Corporation as part of a drug-free workplace program, may assist trainingsupervisor in detecting employee substance abuse.

CHECKLIST: Detecting employee substance abuse

Job Performance Deterioration

 _____  Absenteeism. Unauthorized leave, excessive sick leave, Monday and Friday

absences, repeated absence of two to four days or one to two weeks, excessive

tardiness, especially on Monday or after lunch, leaving work early, peculiar andincreasingly improbable excuses for absence and frequent unscheduled short-term

absence with or without medical excuse.

 _____  “On-the-job” absenteeism. Unnecessary absence from the work station,frequent trips to the water fountain or rest rooms, long breaks, physical illness on

the job, and returning to work in an obviously abnormal condition.

 _____  High accident rate. Accidents on the job, frequent need for first aid, and off-the-

 job accidents that affect job performance.

 _____  Difficulty in concentration. Work requires greater effort, the job takes more

time, and hand tremors are apparent during concentration.

 _____  Confusion. Difficulty with instructions, details, handling complex assignments,

or recalling mistakes. _____  Spasmodic work patterns. Alternate periods of very high and very low

 productivity.

 _____  Tenacity to job. Inflexibility about changing jobs because control of the present job facilitates covering up poor job performance.

 _____  Lowered job efficiency. Missed deadlines, mistakes due to inattention and poor  judgment, wasted materials, bad decisions, complaints from customers and

coworkers, and improbable excuses for poor performance.

 _____  Poor employee relations. Friction in relationships with coworkers resulting indecreased performance and efficiency, overreaction to real or imagined criticism,

wide swings in morale, borrowing money from coworkers, complaints from

coworkers, and unreasonable resentments.

Physical Signs Associated with Substance Abuse

 _____  Appearance. Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming, wearingsunglasses at work, wearing long-sleeve clothes in hot weather, and reluctance to

wear short- sleeve attire when appropriate.

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 _____  Eyes. Difficulty focusing, glazed appearance of the eyes, red eyes, and dilated or 

constricted pupils.

 _____  Nose and mouth. Dry mouth, frequent lip licking, dry nose, runny nose, chronic

nasal problems, and nosebleeds or red nostrils.

 _____  Skin. Flushed skin, scars and tracks, excessive perspiration or body odor.

 _____  Drowsiness. Sleepy or stuporous condition, slurred speech, and lethargy or drowsiness.

Behavioral Characteristics Associated with Substance Abuse.

 _____  Aggressive behavior. Unusual flare-ups and outbreaks of temper, irritability, loudor aggressive behavior, competitive or argumentative behavior, unusual

talkativeness, conversations lacking continuity, agitation, fear, paranoia, and

nervousness.

 _____  Passive behavior. Uncharacteristically passive behavior, withdrawal from

responsibility, memory loss, deadened sensory perception, disorientation, and lack of interest in food or sleep.

 _____  Relationships. Association with known substance abusers, stealing from the

employer, and interpersonal relationship problems with coworkers and family.