Last Updated on May 30, 2025 by Dave Schoenbeck
While it’s not often discussed, substance abuse in the workplace is a serious problem that affects many businesses. According to the United States Justice Department, in addition to potentially being a safety issue, “absenteeism, lost productivity, and increased use of medical and insurance benefits by employees who abuse drugs affect a business financially.”
Employees don’t have to be under the influence in the workplace for their substance abuse to become an issue for your business.
Here are 3 essential tactics for detecting and dealing with substance abuse in the workplace.
Know the Signs
While substance abuse in the workplace can sometimes be tricky to spot, a few signs might indicate a problem. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that changes in attendance, such as tardiness, taking long lunches, or missing work altogether, are significant signs that something might be wrong in an employee’s personal life.
Other signs an employee might have a substance abuse problem include paranoia, exhaustion, decreased productivity, and low quality of work. You and your employees must be aware of these signs so that potential problems can be identified before they become severe issues.
Symptoms such as slurred speech, glassy eyes, erratic behavior, or sluggishness may indicate that an employee is under the influence in the workplace. Ensure all employees are aware of the potential hazards so they can report any suspicious behavior immediately, as an intoxicated worker poses a significant safety concern.
Have an Open-Door Policy
Employees should feel comfortable coming to you or another supervisor if they suspect a coworker is abusing substances. Likewise, the offending employee should feel comfortable reaching out for help when needed. Make it known that although substance abuse in the workplace is not tolerated, you’re willing to work with troubled employees to get them the help they need if they ask for it.
Stress the importance of reporting erratic or unusual behavior in your workplace. Many employees might shy away from talking to you about their suspicions for fear of jeopardizing a coworker’s job. However, an employee with a substance abuse problem is an accident waiting to happen, whether on the job or off. It’s in everyone’s best interest that the issue is solved.
Create a Preventive Culture
One of the best ways to ensure that substance abuse in the workplace can be detected and handled correctly is by carefully curating your office culture. I’ve written about how to structure your company culture to prevent embezzlement, and the tactics are similar for preventing and detecting substance abuse.
Suppose your office culture values open communication between employees and supervisors, clearly defining employee responsibilities and office policies, and fostering personal relationships with team members. In that case, it will be easier to spot when there is a behavioral change. Moreover, it will create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their problems.
Managing people is frequently rewarding and disappointing. If you’re struggling, click on my contact form to schedule a complimentary coaching call, and we can discuss how a coaching program can help you.
Coach Dave
