Alcohol addiction|in the company

The vine has 3 grapes: The 1st brings sensual pleasure, the 2nd intoxication and the 3rd crime.

Alcohol is the most dangerous drug for the entire society – not cannabis, heroin, crack or amphetamine!

Alcohol destroys the alcoholic, their family and their whole social environment. The subsequent costs for the social systems are extremely high with alcohol.

Costs caused by an alcoholic in the company

  • They only perform approx. 75% of their work.
  • Alcohol plays a role in approx. 20% of accidents at work; alcoholics are 3.5 times more likely to be involved in accidents at work
  • Alcoholics are absent 1.4 times longer after accidents
  • Alcoholics are 16 times more likely not to adhere to working hours (arriving late, long breaks, incapacity for work at short notice)
  • Alcoholics are sick 2.5 times more often than healthy employees

The goal should be an alcohol-free workplace and an alcohol-free working day!

The effect of alcohol

  • Even 0.2 per mill influence the performance, increase the willingness to take risks and worsen the perception
  • From 0.5 per mill, the concentration is decreased, the reaction time is prolonged and overconfidence is increased.
  • From 1 per mill, the performance is considerably impaired, the field of vision is narrowed (tunnel vision) and balance problems occur.

Indications of harmful use and addiction

Alcohol-related indications:

  • Drinking alcohol during working hours, including lunch break
  • Drunkenness at the workplace
  • Sometimes shivering and sweating, red eyes, general unrest
  • Smell of alcohol or of breath fresheners such as mouth wash, peppermint oil, eucalyptus
     

Work-related indications:

  • Above-average sick leave, often absent for individual days
  • Leaving the workplace for a short time, extended breaks, unpunctuality
  • Unreliability, tense way of working, hasty and secret drinking
  • Avoiding superiors for fear that the alcohol problem is recognized
     

Individual indications:

  • Mood swings with overconfidence and anxiety, depressive mood, memory gaps
  • Mistrust of superiors and colleagues, lack of distance
  • Denial and trivialization of alcohol consumption
  • Financial problems, debts, confiscation of the driving license
  • Cut of family ties, social relegation and neglect

Procedure when addressing a suspected addiction problem

1. You are a supervisor not a therapist and want to support your employees

2. Collect facts:

  • Times absent
  • Performance fluctuations
  • Unreliability
  • Nervousness – irritability
  • Neglected personal hygiene

3. Only confront the employee with facts and not with rumors without attacking them.

4. Specify the professional performance profile with your employee, what you expect from them and agree on goals.

  • Offer them guidance for action
  • Agree a follow-up meeting
  • Adhere to the follow-up meeting
  • Feedback from treating physician

Addiction medicine

Therapy

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