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It’s
OUR
Business
Addressing Addiction & Mental Health in the Workplace
AHS Staff Prevention and
Health Promotion Handouts
for Workplace ConsultationIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Workplace health model
Among the goals of workplace health promotion be adapted to fit with other workplace health
are preventing the development of addiction and initiatives, including interventions aimed at
mental health problems, and reducing the harm mental health and tobacco use.
associated with them. Workplace health refers to
an organization’s ability to promote and maintain
the physical and mental health of its employees. Policy
It is also about reducing risks to employees’ development
health and wellness through safe work practices,
healthy work environments and the responsible
Assistance and Information and
hosting of company events. treatment education programs
More than 67% of the population over the age of
15 are in the workforce, and spend an average
of 60% of their waking hours in the workplace,
or have meaningful involvement with other
Regulation Health promotion
workplace environments, including schools, of use programs
apprentice and vocational programs, and health-
care settings.1 The workplace has a strong
influence on employee health and wellness
and, in turn, affects the family and community. Policy development
A healthy workplace is one where employees
A written company policy signals a corporate
enjoy a safe and healthy work environment,
commitment to substance abuse prevention, mental
where they have strong and supportive working
health promotion and employee health. Corporate
relationships that give them a sense of control
policy provides the basis for further interventions.
and influence over what happens to them, and
When developing a policy, it is important to
where they are encouraged and supported
address the following:
to look after their own health, both at work and
at home. 1. consultation with the workforce during
development
Intervention strategies 2. universal application
3. adaptation to the specific organization
Workplace programs are more effective when
an organizational, comprehensive approach 4. comprehensive coverage and specific
procedures for responding to different issues
is taken. Tim Stockwell and others2 outline
(e.g., drug use in the workplace)
how interventions to reduce the risk posed
5. education on, and awareness of, company
by substance use in the workplace fall into
policies
five broad categories. These categories can
Handout 1, Module 1
AHS 2014
1-17 It’s Our Business6. education and training on the implementation of Assistance and treatment
company policies
Assistance and treatment commonly involves
7. pace implementation
referring employees to an employee assistance
8. evaluation of stated objectives program for help with issues such as alcohol
and other drug use problems, and mental health
Information and education programs issues.
A key aspect of providing a comprehensive
approach to any intervention or program within References
the workplace is providing health information 1. Alberta Health Services–Workplace
to all employees (e.g., information on why Health Team. (2011). Workplace Health
alcohol and other drug use can be a problem Improvement Project: Training manual.
in the workplace setting). Education programs Calgary, AB: Author.
can focus on the company’s policies, health
risks and other problems associated with not 2. Stockwell, T., Gruenewald, P., Toumbourou,
addressing health issues, and tools employees J., & Loxley, W. (Eds.). (2005). Preventing
can use to assess their own or others’ health harmful substance use: The evidence base
behaviour. Education programs can also provide for policy and practice. Chichester, England:
information on where to go for help. Wiley.
Health promotion programs For more information
Health promotion programs have the ability
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
to change health environments and teach
Health offices offer a range of prevention and
participants how to improve or maintain their
treatment services to assist businesses in
health, for example by making healthier choices
managing workplace addiction and mental
related to substance misuse, stress management
health concerns. For more information, and to
and exercise.
find an addiction and mental health services
office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
Regulation of use
Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
Regulation of use has a number of functions, and Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
may include measures such as banning alcohol more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
and other drug use, and compliance alcohol http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
and drug testing. For more information on drug
testing and what to consider when choosing
whether or not to have a drug testing policy,
request the following handouts:
• Steps to Consider When Developing a Policy
(Handout 1, Module 5)
• Alcohol and Drug Testing (Handout 2, Module 5)
• Making Policy Work (Handout 3, Module 5)
Handout 1, Module 1
AHS 2014
1-18 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Business case for workplace health
Why the workplace? Board (WCB) costs, and recruitment and
retention costs. Indirect costs are those for
The workplace, where people spend an average
which resources are lost. These costs include
of 60% of their waking hours, greatly affects
productivity, absenteeism and presenteeism.
physical, mental and social well-being. There is
conclusive evidence that the infrastructure of The benefits of workplace health programming
the workplace can provide a support network for employees include increased health
that will encourage and promote healthy knowledge, increased job satisfaction, physical
lifestyle practices at both the individual and benefits, reduced risk of depression, more
organizational level. There are other key reasons energy and less stress.
why workplaces are an ideal setting to
promote health: Benefits outweigh the costs
• Workplaces have access to a large number Substance abuse in the workplace is a
of people on a regular basis and can provide concern for everyone: workers, leaders and
ongoing support to employees.
managers, business owners and taxpayers. It
• Workplaces have access to groups who may be is hard to measure the true economic costs of
hard to reach otherwise (e.g., minority groups
workplace substance use in Canada. It can be
and people who do not visit doctors and other
difficult, for instance, to directly link substance
health professionals regularly).
use with lowered productivity, absenteeism
• Workplaces are convenient places for people to
and accidents. As a result, the true costs of
get information and support.
workplace substance abuse remain hidden.
• Workplaces can provide the necessary
But there are human and economic costs to
supportive social environment.
workplace substance abuse, both direct and
Reasons to invest in indirect, and the costs are significant.
employee health In 2002, annual productivity losses in Canada
Workplace health programming has substantial due to substance abuse were estimated at $11.8
positive effects on an organization’s bottom billion, which included
line and the return on investment (ROI) can be
• $4.1 billion for alcohol
significant.
• $823.1 million for illegal drugs1
A comprehensive approach to workplace health
This is the equivalent of 1.29% of Canada’s
can help reduce both direct and indirect costs
gross domestic product (GDP) that year, or $313
to an organization. Direct costs are those for
per Canadian.1 These productivity losses say
which payments are made. These costs include
nothing about the cost of human suffering or
health care costs (e.g., drug and hospital costs),
other impacts on the workplace.
insurance premiums, Workers’ Compensation
Handout 2, Module 1
AHS 2014
1-19 It’s Our BusinessThe Conference Board of Canada estimates that However, when workplace health programs are in
every employee who smokes costs a company place, employers have been able to cut costs while
$3,396 per year through increased absenteeism, caring for their employees. There is a significant
decreased productivity and the costs associated ROI for organizations that invest in their employees’
with maintaining and cleaning outside health. Programs that demonstrated the largest
smoking areas.2 returns focused on long-term behaviour change,
used tailored communication methods and
Alcohol abuse costs the Alberta economy $855 incorporated individualized counselling for high-
million in lost productivity and $407 million for risk individuals. Here are two examples:
direct health care services.3
1. Eight organizations in Halifax calculated an
ROI of $1.64 for every dollar invested in a
Mental health in the workplace comprehensive workplace wellness program.8
Mental illness, which includes the most common 2. A Canadian government corporate wellness
mental health disorders, such as depression programs reported a return of $1.95–$3.75 per
and anxiety, costs the Canadian economy a employee for every dollar spent.9
staggering $51 billion a year, with one-third of
that due to lost productivity.4 What you can do
According to the World Health Organization, As a leader, you have the front-line responsibility
depression will rank second only to heart of making sure that employees report for work
disease as the leading cause of disability and remain fit to perform their duties safely and
worldwide by the year 2020. Mental health effectively. However, you aren’t expected to do
problems and illnesses are rated as one of the it alone. As a leader, you can take responsibility
top three drivers of both short- and long-term for initiating discussions or ensuring that training
disability claims by more than 80% of Canadian occurs so that all employees are clear about their
employers. responsibilities. You can also promote fitness for
work by setting a good example and intervening
Mental health problems and illnesses account when required.
for more than $6 billion in lost productivity costs
due to absenteeism and preseenteeism.5 Ultimately, a troubled employee is responsible
for his or her own change. Your role is to identify
A recent stress-reduction program in a branch the impact on his or her performance and identify
of the Halifax provincial government reduced sources of assistance. You and your employees
absenteeism by 27%.6 are partners in obtaining good work performance.
These tools will help you fulfill your role as a
Costs to organizations and workplace role model and leader more effectively.
return on investment (ROI)
Employee illness and injury add significantly to the
cost of doing business. Employee absence alone
costs Canadian businesses about $8.6 billion per
year.7 In addition, Canadian organizations report
an annual absenteeism rate of 6.6 days lost per
full-time employee, which equates to about 2.6%
of their total payroll.
Handout 2, Module 1
AHS 2014
1-20 It’s Our Business8. Lowe, G. (2012). Creating healthy
References organizations: How vibrant workplaces inspire
1. Rehm, J., Ballunas, D., Brochu, S., Fischer, employees to achieve sustainable success.
B., Gnam, W., Patra, J., Popovan, S., Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Sarnocinska-Hart, A., & Taylor, B. (2006).
The costs of substance abuse in Canada, 9. Alberta Health Services—Workplace Health
2002. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Centre on Team. (2011). Workplace Health Improvement
Substance Abuse. Retrieved from http:// Project: Training manual. Calgary, AB: Author.
www.ccsa.ca/2006%20CCSA%20
Documents/ccsa-011332-2006.pdf For more information
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
2. Conference Board of Canada. (2006).
Health offices offer a range of prevention and
Smoking and the bottom line: Updating the
treatment services to assist businesses in
costs of smoking in the workplace. Ottawa,
managing workplace addiction and mental
ON: Author. Retrieved from http://www.
health concerns. For more information, and to
conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.
find an addiction and mental health services
aspx?did=1754
office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
3. Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
Commission and Alberta Gaming and Liquor Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
Commission. (2007). Developing an Alberta more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
Alcohol Strategy: Background information. http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
Edmonton, AB: Author. Retrieved from
http://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/pdf/social_
responsibility/Alberta_Alcohol_Strategy.pdf
4. Abma, D. (2012, January 20). Depression
costs Canada $51 billion per year. Postmedia
News. Retrieved from http://www.canada.
com/business/Depression+costs+Canada+
billion+year/6002202/story.html
5. Mental Health Commission of Canada.
(2012). The facts. Calgary, AB: Author.
Retrieved from http://strategy.
mentalhealthcommission.ca/the-facts
6. Centre for Health Promotion, University of
Toronto. (2003). The case for comprehensive
workplace health promotion: Making “cents”
of a good idea. Toronto, ON: Author.
7. Industrial Accident Prevention Association.
(2008). The business case for a healthy
workplace. Mississauga, ON: Author.
Retrieved from http://www.iapa.ca/pdf/
fd_business_case_healthy_workplace.pdf
Handout 2, Module 1
AHS 2014
1-21 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Workplace health programs: Frequently
asked questions
Do these programs cost a lot? and safety committees they can join or a
suggestion box they can contribute to)
Workplace health programs do not have to be
costly. Low-cost activities include providing We offered a tobacco
brochures and resource information, having cessation program and
a speaker come in at lunch (many health nobody came. Why?
organizations provide free speakers, including
It’s very important to involve employees in
your employee assistance program/employee
making decisions about programs that you hope
and family assistance program) or having
they will attend. Not everybody who smokes
workers organize fitness activities at lunchtime
is interested in quitting—that might be too big
or after work.
a step. To encourage and support employee
participation, it may be important to include and
How do we encourage people offer support such as incentives for participation,
to participate in health– providing a supportive environment and
promoting activities? providing work time to participate.
Make them fun! Activities that require too
Some smokers might be interested in looking
much effort, equipment or planning may seem
at ways to cut down, while others might like
overwhelming. Make it easy for people to
to attend an information session on nicotine
participate by keeping activities simple. It’s also
patches or other methods to quit with
important to ask employees for their input. A
assistance. Start where your audience is and
committee can decide that there are too many
provide programs that they are interested in.
overweight employees, for instance, and that an
exercise room is the answer. But if employees
aren’t interested in exercising, and would rather References
attend a weight loss support group at lunch, then 1. Health Canada. (n.d.). Tobacco reduction—
the exercise equipment might not get used. Other common questions. Ottawa, ON: Author.
ways to encourage people to participate include Retrieved from http://www.health.alberta.ca/
initiatives/tobacco-reduction-questions.html
• giving employees incentives for participating
• providing work time for employees to 2. Statistics Canada. (2010). Canadian Tobacco
participate Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS). Ottawa,
• developing methods for employees to provide ON: Author. Retrieved from http://www.
input on the activities or things they would like hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/research-
to see provided in the workplace (e.g., health recherche/stat/index-eng.php
Handout 1, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-37 It’s Our BusinessFor more information
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental Health offices offer a range of prevention and treatment
services to assist businesses in managing workplace addiction and mental health concerns. For more
information, and to find an addiction and mental health services office near you, please call the
24-hour Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.
For more workplace-specific resources, please visit: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
Handout 1, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-38 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Ways to promote workplace health
• Have pamphlets, videos and books available • Introduce flexibility in work scheduling to assist
to your employees on topics like smoking, employees in balancing their work and family
alcohol and drug use, problem gambling, needs. Allow them to adjust their schedule so
stress management, weight control and anger they can successfully care for aging parents,
management. raise a family or adjust to physical ailments.
Explore alternatives like job sharing and
• Provide courses and seminars on topics such
working from home to enable employees to
as substance abuse, problem gambling, heart-
juggle work and home demands successfully.
smart cooking, anger management, shift work,
dealing with conflict, and healthy eating. These
can be made available to family members too.
Being healthy and feeling well is about
• Develop a health committee at your workplace. more than just the absence of disease.
Identify interested and appropriate people, and
call a meeting. If your company already has a
health and safety committee, suggest that the Some ideas about how you can maintain or
committee make health promotion a priority. enhance your own health include
• Give employees more control over their
• doing things that will improve your health, such
workplace environment. Employees need to be
as eating well, exercising regularly, getting
heard, to have input on decisions that affect
enough sleep and getting regular medical
them, to be treated fairly and to participate
checkups
in solving problems. Create opportunities for
employees to participate in decision-making • reducing or stopping behaviour that puts your
and to provide input and suggestions regularly. health at risk
Ensure that they are kept informed through
• learning to manage stress in healthy ways, such
ongoing communication. One way to collect this
as exercising, talking things out with someone
type of information is through general health
you trust, meditating, getting a hobby or simply
and interest surveys.
relaxing your mind and body
• Invite speakers from health and community
• taking steps to reduce stress when you can and
agencies to talk with leadership and employees
learning healthy ways to manage stress when
about the health or counselling services they
you can’t
provide.
• getting support with the ups and downs of
• Support employees in making improvements
everyday living from friends, co-workers and
to their own health. Creating a supportive
family members
environment is an important step, alongside
offering health-promoting programs. Health- • getting professional help when you need it
promoting programs may include supporting • participating in workplace wellness programs or
employees in quitting smoking, making healthy committees to make your workplace as healthy
food alternatives available in lunchrooms, creating and safe as possble
safe and attractive stairways and encouraging
their use, and providing exercise equipment and
encouraging its use during breaks.
Handout 2, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-39 It’s Our BusinessFor more information
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental Health offices offer a range of prevention and treatment
services to assist businesses in managing workplace addiction and mental health concerns. For more
information, and to find an addiction and mental health services office near you, please call the
24-hour Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.
For more workplace-specific resources, please visit: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
Handout 2, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-40 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Workplace culture and substance use
Workplace culture refers to what is considered For more information
normal and acceptable behaviour at work. This
Alberta Health Services (AHS), Addiction and
is the unwritten way of doing things, including
Mental Health offers information, prevention
attitudes in the workplace, and it may or may not
and treatment services through a province wide
support the formal policies in place. As a leader,
network of offices, facilities and funded services.
you contribute to establishing the culture of your
Services include a toll-free helpline, prevention
team and work environment. A healthy work
and education, detoxification, outpatient
team will not encourage or tolerate the use of
counselling, opioid dependency programs and
nonmedicinal mind-altering substances at work.
residential treatment.
Alcohol and other drug use continue to rank high
AHS, Addiction and Mental Health has
on the list of concerns that result in referrals
counsellors with specific training in workplace
to an employee assistance program (EAP) or
issues. This allows us to better meet the needs
employee and family assistance program (EFAP).
of employees and supervisors, and to respond
While there is no foolproof way of preventing
readily to referrals from the business community.
these problems from affecting employees, there
Other specific services for the Alberta workplace
are some steps that you, as a leader, can take
include
toward the prevention of alcohol and other
drug-related problems in the workplace: • addictions-related information and prevention
resources for the workplace
• Set a good example and be a role model by
recognizing that your actions send a strong • addictions education, employer consultation
message to other employees about what is and and supervisory training
is not acceptable behaviour. • the Addiction and Mental Health Business
• Know your organization’s guidelines and & Industry Clinic, which offers residential
policies on alcohol and drug use, take a clear treatment for employees who have problems
stand and enforce them consistently. related to alcohol or other drugs
• Make sure that the employees on your team For more information and to find an addiction
know about the guidelines and policies services office near you, please call the 24-hour
regarding substance use, as well as the support Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-
programs your organization provides, such as
hour Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.
an EAP/EFAP, treatment programs, short-term
disability or modified work.
For more workplace-specific resources, please
visit: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
• Take a look at the role alcohol use plays in your
team’s social activities and consider how this
contributes to the culture of your team at work.
Handout 3, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-41 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Responsible hosting of workplace
social events
Many workplaces host social events, such • Develop guidelines about hosting and
as staff barbecues and Christmas parties. entertaining with alcohol. Be sure to address
situations when the employee is the client and
Sometimes alcohol is served at these functions.
when the employee hosts clients. Share the
Staff are also sometimes expected to host guidelines with employees and also consider
clients or be hosted as a client as part of other ways to entertain without alcohol.
their official or unofficial job duties. It is very
• Consider how your organization celebrates.
important to practice responsible hosting when Brainstorm a variety of ways your organization
holding a workplace function, as there may can celebrate organizational success or
be liability issues if employees cause harm to employee success in ways that don’t involve
themselves or others after using alcohol at a alcohol or other drugs.
work function. If you decide to serve alcohol at
these events, here are some tips:
For more information
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
• Always have non-alcoholic beverages available.
Health offices offer a range of prevention and
• Hire a bartender to mix standard, treatment services to assist businesses in
measured drinks. managing workplace addiction and mental
• Make sure that the bar is attended at all times, health concerns. For more information, and to
and has designated opening and closing times. find an addiction and mental health services
• Make sure food is available whenever the office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
bar is open. Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
• Offer taxi/bus services or accommodation Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
arrangements to ensure that those guests who more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
have been drinking do not drive.
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
• Encourage responsible drinking by setting a
tone for the event that does not emphasize
drinking, and offer alternative activities, like
dancing or other games.
• Ensure all of the above information is
communicated to employees before and
during social events so that all leadership and
employees are aware.
Handout 4, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-43 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Promoting health and wellness
Promoting workplace health and wellness is baseball games and badminton tournaments
valuable, both as a way to retain and attract • promote information about the
employees and as an ethical responsibility. workplace EAP/EFAP
But how does an organization move from good • participating in the development or annual
intentions in building a program to getting good review of workplace policies that involve health
results? This can be accomplished by working and wellness
together. Any group of interested employees
can work together to create a healthier work
For more information
environment. Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
Health offices offer a range of prevention and
You can provide leadership and promote treatment services to assist businesses in
health within your own working group or by managing workplace addiction and mental
connecting with other work units within your health concerns. For more information, and to
organization. Your initiatives may be informal, or find an addiction and mental health services
you can set up a workplace health committee. office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
In larger organizations, you can involve safety Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
representatives, members from occupational Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
health and safety, someone from the social more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
committee, an employee assistance program http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
(EAP) or employee and family assistance
program (EFAP) representative and other
interested employees and managers. If your
organization already has an established health
and safety committee, encourage the integration
of health-promoting topics.
Examples of some initiatives you and your
workplace health group can undertake include
• setting up and maintaining a display of
pamphlets and brochures aimed at
employee health
• organizing information sessions for employees
and their families on health-related topics
• organizing lunchtime exercise sessions or walks
• providing fun social activities that promote
physical activity, such as hallway bowling, noon
Handout 5, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-45 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Steps for building your workplace
health program
Follow these steps to promote health and staff, conduct a written employee health and
wellness within your workplace. interest survey, install a suggestion box or hold
formal meetings.
Step 1: Get support from
management. Step 3: Put together a plan.
Strong organizational, management and Once you have gathered information about
leadership support is essential for the success what employees want, develop an action plan
of workplace health programming. This support for a workplace health program. Identify goals,
also creates and promotes a positive workplace timelines and the resources needed. The
culture. The organization needs to be committed planning process will help highlight what can and
to generating the human and financial capital cannot be done, based on what is available. It is
required to provide health programming to important to continue working with employees
their employees. Ways to demonstrate support throughout the planning and implementation
include process.
• developing a vision or mission statement that Develop an evaluation plan alongside your
outlines commitment to the health of employees action plan to demonstrate that your workplace
• budgeting for workplace health programs and is achieving what you want and to show the
activities employer benefits over time, such as decreased
• communicating regularly with staff about absenteeism and decreased health costs to the
resources and initiatives company. More information on monitoring and
• creating workplace policies and implementation evaluating can be found in Step 7.
and enforcement strategies, with employee
feedback
Step 4: Build commitment.
Encourage those planning and developing
Step 2: Find out what
a workplace health program to spread the
employees need and want.
word and get support from others within the
It is critical that employees at all levels organization, especially top-level management.
participate in developing a workplace health Have management actively involved and
initiative. Effective workplace health programs participating. Encourage employee commitment
must reflect the interests of employees. To find by being an active leader, developing and
out what employees want in a workplace health implementing activities people are interested in
program, employers can meet informally with and rewarding progress.
Handout 6, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-47 It’s Our BusinessStep 5: Put activities in place. Step 7: Monitor, evaluate and
Once a plan is in place, it’s time to act on it. revise your activities.
Activities should As with any initiative, it is important to regularly
evaluate whether or not a workplace health
• raise awareness and provide education about
health issues, to give employees the information
program is working, and explore ways to make it
they need to make informed choices better. Celebrate successes!
• build skills to encourage, support and enable
Employers can evaluate and track the success
people to keep themselves and their families
of their programs with the following information:
healthy
achieved program goals, human resource
• create a supportive work environment to send
data (e.g., absenteeism, stress leave or injury
out a strong message about your commitment
to health and safety in the workplace rates), employee assistance program (EAP) or
employee and family assistance program (EFAP)
data, employee participation rates, changes in
Step 6: Communicate your
health-related behaviour, increased knowledge
activities.
and awareness of health-related topics.
Effective communication is essential for
engaging employees, providing information There is a saying that success breeds success.
and promoting employee health initiatives. Be What’s important is starting, no matter how
sure to use multiple methods to communicate small or simple. As employees get involved and
health initiatives, programming, education start to enjoy the benefits of improved health and
and awareness opportunities. Communication wellness, the committee can grow and tackle
methods can include larger projects.
• notice boards
For more information
• team briefings
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
• company intranet
Health offices offer a range of prevention and
• email treatment services to assist businesses in
• paycheque stuffers managing workplace addiction and mental
• staff surveys health concerns. For more information, and to
• focus groups find an addiction and mental health services
office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
• health and safety committees
Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
• employee orientation to health and safety and Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
benefit options offered by the organization
more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
• manager distributions http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
• social media
Handout 6, Module 2
AHS 2014
2-48 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
How substance use problems develop
If there were no good things about alcohol and management skills. Gradually, more time is spent
other drugs, people wouldn’t use them. People drinking or using other drugs, and less time is
use substances because they provide two spent managing life in healthy ways. The person
things: pleasure, and relief from emotional or relies more and more on the substance to cope.
physical pain. In other words, drugs work. They The more they use, the more problems they may
work quickly, too, meaning that the benefits have at home, at work and with their friends.
of using drugs are short term. However, there And the more problems, the more they use,
are also many not-so-good things about using and so on. Eventually, the person requires the
substances. The problems associated with substance just to feel normal.
alcohol and other drugs usually evolve over time.
Cycle of dependence
may start here
or here How people move through this cycle differs for
each person. Here are some examples of how
Difficulty
Skills erode managing the cycle works.
(not used) experiences/
emotions 1. Bill is having problems at home. He and his wife
have been fighting a lot lately. To get away from
the stress at home, he starts going out with the
Less time
Use alchol or boys more often. Rather than dealing with the
using skills
drugs problem with his wife, he avoids it by going to
to manage
the bar. He has a few too many, comes home
and the fighting gets worse. The less that Bill
More time Quick, easy and his wife talk, and the more he drinks, the
spent using effects harder it gets for them to sort things out.
alcohol or (short term)
drugs 2. Susan started smoking pot as a teenager to
fit in with a peer group. She found that when
she was high, it was easier to socialize and to
overcome her shyness. Rather than developing
the social skills needed to feel confident, she
The short-term good things and longer-term, started to rely on marijuana to loosen her up
not-so-good things can form a cycle that at social events. Over time, she became more
dependent on pot, and now can’t handle any
explains how substance use develops into
social situation without getting high.
dependency. At first, getting high feels good and
allows a person to temporarily escape from life’s No one sets out to have an alcohol or other
problems. But the more often a person turns to drug problem. Problems with alcohol and other
drugs usually develop gradually, over time.
alcohol or other drugs to cope with or escape The more a person drinks or takes drugs, the
life’s problems, the less they use their other life greater the risk for developing a problem.
Handout 1, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-65 It’s Our BusinessFor more information
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental Health offices offer a range of prevention and treatment
services to assist businesses in managing workplace addiction and mental health concerns. For more
information, and to find an addiction and mental health services office near you, please call the
24-hour Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.
For more workplace-specific resources, please visit: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
Handout 1, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-66 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders & Employees
Alcohol and other drugs: It’s a problem when...
Alcohol and other drug problems develop for a As an alcohol or other drug problem gets worse,
variety of reasons. Problems can occur when a the person may experience:
person
• uses too much of a drug, or takes it too often
• uses drugs for too long (the longer a person
uses a substance, the more difficult it can be
to stop—some medicines, like painkillers and Tolerance Dependence
sleep aids, can cause problems if taken for
extended periods of time, or after they are no
longer needed)
• takes drugs for the wrong reasons (e.g., using
Problems in
alcohol to cope with unpleasant feelings, Loss of control
major life
taking pain relievers to deal with stress, taking areas
someone else’s medications)
• takes drugs without following directions (e.g.,
Blackouts
taking more than the prescribed dose, driving
when taking a drug that warns that performance
can be impaired)
• combines drugs (many drugs become
dangerous when mixed, and can produce
unwanted or unexpected side effects) Tolerance
• uses in dangerous ways (e.g., driving while With regular use over time, the body adapts
under the influence, sharing injection to the presence of alcohol or another drug in
equipment, buying drugs on the street where its system. This results in a person needing to
you can never know for sure what’s in them)
take more and more of the drug to get the same
effect. Alcohol tolerance is different from a
People don’t set out to become dependent on
person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The
alcohol or other drugs, nor do they wake up one
more often a person drinks, the more alcohol
day and find they are addicted. Dependence on
they need to feel the same effects. This is called
a substance is a process that happens over time.
tolerance. Being able to “hold your liquor”
simply means that one can drink more alcohol
before appearing drunk. Tolerance can be a
warning sign that a person’s drinking habits are
becoming dangerous.
Handout 2, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-67 It’s Our BusinessA heavy drinker or drug user can consume a lot Psychological dependence: It’s in
of the substance and not appear intoxicated. the mind
They have adjusted to feeling impaired and have
Psychological dependence occurs when a
learned to control their behaviour.
person’s thoughts, emotions and activities
This is called behavioural tolerance. They may become centred on substance use. They believe
still be impaired, and still present a safety risk. that these thoughts, emotions or activities
would be less satisfying or even impossible
Dependence without using that substsance. They can
experience cravings even though there is no
Dependence occurs when a person becomes physical dependence. People can become
hooked on alcohol or other drugs. This can psychologically dependent on almost any mood-
happen physically and/or psychologically. altering drug (the only exception appears to be
hallucinogens, such as LSD).
A person with an alcohol or other drug problem
continues to drink or take drugs despite the Physical dependence ends when withdrawal is
problems it creates in major areas of their life. complete. However, psychological dependence
can linger for a long time. For example, the habit
Physical dependence: It’s in the body
of smoking cigarettes lasts much longer than
Physical dependence occurs when the body the actual withdrawal from nicotine. It is the
becomes so used to alcohol or a particular drug that psychological dependence that creates the most
it cannot function normally without it. People who difficulty when quitting smoking. Psychological
are physically addicted to alcohol or other drugs will dependence also creates many of the difficulties
most likely experience withdrawal when they stop in recovery from heavy use of alcohol or
taking the substance. other drugs.
Withdrawal is the unpleasant and sometimes
life-threatening physical reaction a person may
Problems in major life areas
experience when they stop using alcohol or another One of the most important indicators of an alcohol or
drug. Physical dependence is often measured by other drug problem is when a person continues to drink
how severe the withdrawal is. The symptoms and or take other drugs despite the problems it creates.
length of time it takes to withdraw from a substance
vary depending on the substance, how long the
person has been using, how much they have been “I never thought I had a drinking problem
until I took an honest look at how the things
using and their overall health. going wrong in my life were connected to the
booze. Arguments at home, hassles at work—
Withdrawal symptoms range from mild discomfort once I got my drinking under control, I was
able to sort these problems out.”
to life-threatening reactions. For example, a
hangover from alcohol is a mild form of withdrawal;
severe alcohol withdrawal can include hallucinations
and seizures. Some people can withdraw safely
on their own. Others need medical assistance and
must go to a detoxification centre or hospital to
ensure that their withdrawal is managed safely.
Handout 2, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-68 It’s Our BusinessThese major life areas can be affected by a cope by drinking alcohol or using other drugs.
person’s alcohol or other drug use: These are complex issues. That’s why it’s so
important to leave diagnosis to the professionals.
Family
Work
Blackouts
Spouse
A blackout is a loss of memory about events that
Legal
happened while drinking or using other drugs.
Children
A person may wake up at home, for example,
but not remember how they got there. Some
people will experience memory lapses for large
Spirit- Distressed
Friends
uality Employee periods of time, but more commonly people who
experience blackouts will be unable to remember
an hour or two of their drinking or other
Mental
Health Sexuality drug-using experience.
When helping someone determine whether
Finances Leisure
Physical their alcohol or other drug use is a problem, the
Health counsellor will ask about blackouts. Although not
all people have them, they do commonly occur
in those who are experiencing signs of physical
Examples of the problems a person may
dependence.
experience include
• feeling depressed, angry, guilty or ashamed Loss of Control
• being charged with impaired driving or possession An important factor in determining whether
of an illegal substance
someone has an alcohol or other drug problem is
• an increase in debts, problems making payments or whether they can control their use. For example,
not being able to cover basic expenses (e.g., rent/
if a person decides to have two beers after work,
mortgage, utilities, food or other necessities for the
family)
are they able to stop after two drinks? Often
people who have alcohol or other drug problems
• poor job performance, failing a drug test or getting
are not able to limit their use or are unable to
disciplined/fired
stop using when they want or had planned to.
• more and more leisure activities involving drinking/
They find themselves drinking or using more than
using, less time with family or losing friends who do
not drink or use they intended despite their best intentions to
limit or control their use.
• hangovers or blackouts
• arguments with spouse and spending less time
with children
For more information
For more information and to find an addiction
It’s also important to realize that sometimes it is
services office near you, please call the
the problems in a person’s life that contribute to
24-hour Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322.
their alcohol or other drug use. Men and women
For mental health related information, and to find
who are dissatisfied with their jobs, who are
a mental health clinic near you, please call the
experiencing grief or loss, who have stresses at
24-hour Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.
home, who suffer from poor self-esteem or who
are battling illnesses will sometimes attempt to
Handout 2, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-69 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders & Employees
Alcohol and other drugs: Stages of use
There are many different choices that people Social use
can make regarding alcohol and other drug use.
Social users are able to use occasionally and
Some will choose not to use at all. Others will
stop when they want to. They are able to remain
decide to use socially and have no problems
in control and don’t use more than they intend.
controlling their use. The majority of people who
They might disappoint someone by overindulging
start using a drug will not become addicted to it.
on one occasion, but they don’t continue to do
Some people will start out experimenting with a so time after time. In other words, they can use
particular drug and become addicted to it. For without continued negative consequences.
them, use occurs in a progressive pattern: they
Many Canadians are social users of alcohol.
use more of the drug more often until they have
They use once in a while, without experiencing
become hooked or dependent.
continued problems because of their use.
Here are some common ways that people use
alcohol and other drugs. They may be based on Harmful use
individual choices or may reflect a progressive People who use in harmful ways are not yet
pattern of use. physically or psychologically hooked on alcohol
or another drug, but they are often using heavily.
No use Sometimes using is the focus of how they spend
Most people are born into the world in a state their free time (e.g., getting ready for the party,
of no use, with the exception of babies born then going to the party, then recovering from
to addicted mothers. Some people choose to the party). People who are harmfully involved
remain non-users. Others use for a while and almost always experience problems in their lives
then make a conscious choice not to use (e.g., because of their use.
for health or religious reasons).
When people are in this stage, their use can be
described as a problem. The good news is that
Experimental use they can still turn it around. They can learn to
Many people experiment with alcohol and/or other reduce their use, or use more responsibly, as
drugs. They do this for a variety of reasons, often long as they are not yet dependent on the drug.
to see what it is like. Experimentation can happen
at any age—adults can experiment, too. Some
people don’t like the feeling of being drunk or high,
so they stop. Others don’t like the consequences
of use (e.g., hangovers, spending money, feeling
out of control) so they choose not to use again.
Handout 3, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-71 It’s Our BusinessDependence For more information
People who are dependent are addicted Alberta Health Services (AHS), Addiction and
to alcohol or other drugs, physically or Mental Health offers information, prevention
psychologically. Often, they are not able to stop and treatment services through a province wide
using even when they want to. People who are network of offices, facilities and funded services.
addicted experience withdrawal when they come Services include a toll-free helpline, prevention
off alcohol or other drugs. They may feel like they and education, detoxification, outpatient
need the drug or alcohol in order to feel normal. counselling, opioid dependency programs and
People who are addicted are almost always residential treatment.
experiencing problems in their lives as a result of
their use. Once a person has reached this stage, AHS, Addiction and Mental Health has
he or she will likely need help in order to stop counsellors with specific training in workplace
using. And to do so, he or she will likely need to issues. This allows us to better meet the needs
of employees and supervisors, and to respond
quit using altogether.
readily to referrals from the business community.
Other specific services for the Alberta workplace
include
• addictions-related information and prevention
resources for the workplace
• addictions education, employer consultation
and supervisory training
• the Addiction and Mental Health Business
& Industry Clinic, which offers residential
treatment for employees who have problems
related to alcohol or other drugs
For more information, and to find an addiction
and mental health services office near you,
please call the 24-hour Addiction Helpline
at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour Mental
Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For more
workplace-specific resources, please visit:
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
Handout 3, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-72 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders & Employees
Problem drinking: Frequently asked questions
What is problem drinking? addicted. However, genetic make-up is only one
of many factors that explain why people develop
Problem drinking occurs when alcohol use
dependencies.
becomes harmful and begins to interfere with
the user’s personal life. This type of use has
both short and long term health risks and falls
For more information
outside of Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking For more information on alcohol and problem
guidelines. At this stage, the user may or may drinking visit: http://www.albertahealthservices.
not be physically or psychologically dependant. ca/2459.asp
For more information on Canada’s Low Risk
Can a problem drinker ever Alcohol Drinking guidelines check out: http://
drink again? www.ccsa.ca/Eng/Priorities/Alcohol/Canada-
Looking at the research, as well as the Low-Risk-Alcohol-Drinking-Guidelines/Pages/
experience of many alcoholics, most people who default.aspx
are dependent on alcohol or other drugs do best
when they are abstinent (when they don’t drink Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
or use at all). Health offices offer a range of prevention and
treatment services to assist businesses in
managing workplace addiction and mental
Is it normal to experience
health concerns. For more information, and to
blackouts when I’ve been
find an addiction and mental health services
drinking? office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
Blackouts are periods of time that a person Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
can’t remember after they have been drinking or Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
taking other drugs. Not everyone who drinks or more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
takes other drugs experiences blackouts. If you http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
do, consider it a red flag that you might have a
problem.
Is alcoholism hereditary?
There are many theories that try to explain why
one person will become addicted to a substance
and another person, even someone from the
same family, does not. Research seems to
support that there are physiological factors
that predispose some people toward becoming
Handout 4, Module 3A
AHS 2014
3-73 It’s Our BusinessIt’s Our Business
Addressing addiction and mental health in the workplace
Information for Leaders
Problem gambling: Frequently asked
questions
What kind of help is available can also intervene by trying to direct the person
for somebody with a gambling to the appropriate sources of help. While it’s
not your job to diagnose a personal problem,
problem?
there will likely be times when you know what
A person with a gambling problem has access the problem is, and you are in a great position
to the same treatment services as someone with to support and encourage the person to get the
an alcohol or other drug problem. A person with help they need. You could tell your co-worker
a gambling problem can go directly to their local or employee about the employee and family
Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental assistance program, direct them toward an
Health office for assessment and counselling, or addiction counsellor or provide the number for
call the Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322.
Gamblers Anonymous.
The helpline is a toll-free, confidential service
available to all Albertans 24 hours a day, every
Should we quit selling tickets
day. It provides support, information and referral
to services for people who have problems with
and holding hockey pools at
alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling.
work?
This is a decision each workplace will need to
Intensive treatment programs are available. make. Often, workplaces that promote employee
There are also 12-step, self-help programs for wellness will discourage activities that could
gamblers (Gamblers Anonymous) and their create problems for some of their workers. But
families (Gam-Anon). Most provinces offer free it may not be realistic to expect those who don’t
debt management services. In Alberta, contact have gambling problems to refrain from buying
Money Mentors at 1-888-294-0076. Or, Credit raffle tickets or setting up a hockey pool, either.
Counselling Society at 1-888-527-8999. The solution might be to educate employees
about problem gambling and to help them
understand the importance of not pressuring an
If I’m concerned that somebody
employee who says no to participate in gambling
at my workplace has a gambling activities.
problem, what should I do?
One of your primary responsibilities as a leader
is to manage job performance, so you need to
address any performance problems that come
to your attention. However, any time you are
concerned about a co-worker or employee, you
Handout 1, Module 3B
AHS 2014
3-87 It’s Our BusinessHow can a gambling problem The qualities often found in problem gamblers
affect the workplace? (e.g., hard working, energetic and persistent) can
be channeled into a productive, healthy lifestyle.
There’s a good chance that some form Recovering problem gamblers can be very
of gambling is occasionally available in a successful when the gambling is behind them.
workplace. It may be a hockey or football pool, However, they often need the same kinds of help
somebody selling raffle tickets or a group that to recover that someone with an alcohol or other
gets together to buy lottery tickets. A person drug problem needs.
with a gambling problem may or may not
be involved in these activities. However, the
For more information
presence of gambling at a problem gambler’s
workplace can be a source of stress if they Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental
are trying to quit gambling. Employers should Health offices offer a range of prevention and
consider what message they want to send about treatment services to assist businesses in
gambling to their workers. managing workplace addiction and mental
health concerns. For more information, and to
As their gambling problem becomes more find an addiction and mental health services
severe, a problem gambler’s work performance office near you, please call the 24-hour Addiction
is likely to deteriorate. The worker might be Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 or the 24-hour
away from work more often and spend work Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. For
time gambling. They may be preoccupied with more workplace-specific resources, please visit:
how and when they are going to gamble, or how http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2672.asp
they are going to manage their growing debt. In
extreme cases, they may be involved in stealing
money or goods from their company to finance
their gambling, resulting in criminal charges.
Here’s an example of how a person’s job
performance can be affected as their gambling
gets out of control.
John has been a steady worker for
several years. However, the past few
months he just can’t be counted on. He
takes long lunches, disappears for hours
at a time and is calling in sick more often.
He seems wound too tight, snapping at
co-workers and unable to concentrate
on the job. Creditors have been calling
and threatening to garnishee his wages.
It turns out John has a gambling problem.
His wife is threatening to leave him, he
can’t make his payments and the bank
has started foreclosure proceedings on
his house.
Handout 1, Module 3B
AHS 2014
3-88 It’s Our BusinessYou can also read
