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Substance Use Disorders

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Mental Health in the Workplace

Part of the book series: Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care ((IPPC))

Abstract

Workforce substance use is a broad concept that encompasses substance use by employed individuals both inside and outside of the workplace. Workplace substance use involves the consumption of substances during the workday and can also include using substances outside of the workplace in a manner that adversely affects one’s ability to perform one’s work duties. Workplace substance use is often associated with decreased work attendance and lower job performance, costing the US economy billions of dollars each year. To offset these costs, companies have looked toward ways in which to promote healthy lifestyle choices and to provide options for early substance use interventions for their employees. In response, employee assistance and workplace wellness programs have been growing in popularity. However, more research is needed to understand their impact on substance-related outcomes. The workplace can also become a setting for substance use related interventions and referral to specialized treatment services. This chapter explores substance use in the workplace, including the adverse consequences of workplace substance use and how company policy and health programs have the potential to reduce its negative impact.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Justine W. Welsh & Yujia Shentu

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    J. Wesley Boyd

  3. Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    J. Wesley Boyd

Authors
  1. Justine W. Welsh
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  2. Yujia Shentu
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  3. J. Wesley Boyd
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Wesley Boyd .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Michelle B. Riba

  2. Comprehensive Depression Center, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Sagar V. Parikh

  3. Comprehensive Depression Center, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John F. Greden

Potential Resources (Including Technological Resources)

Potential Resources (Including Technological Resources)

SAMHSA Drug-Free Workplace Helpline (800-WORKPLACE (967-5752))

Drug-Free Workplace Toolkit for employers (www.samhsa.gov/workplace/toolkit)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides resources for starting a WWP (www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/index.html)

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) (www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/drug-alcohol-testing-program)

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Welsh, J.W., Shentu, Y., Boyd, J.W. (2019). Substance Use Disorders. In: Riba, M., Parikh, S., Greden, J. (eds) Mental Health in the Workplace. Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04266-0_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04266-0_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04265-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04266-0

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