AU Government Intensifies Campaign vs. Ice Epidemic
It’s absolutely disturbing how a drug known as “ice” has been gaining a foothold in Australia. Some people even go as far as labelling the growing demand for and use of the drug also known as crystal meth as an “epidemic”. More and more people are getting hooked on the drug, and it’s becoming worse because even children are already becoming addicted to the synthetic chemical that is classified as a stimulant.
Thankfully, the Abbott government is now conducting an intensified campaign against the ice epidemic.
Read More
There was a time when drug abuse was a poor man’s affliction or a rich nation’s problem. Today, drug abuse has infiltrated practically all sectors of society, including the workplace. With the rising incidences of drug abuse in the workplace, it’s in the best interest of employers to address this issue. The cost of substance abuse in the workplace can be too heavy to bear, as businesses lose billions of dollars, not only due to healthcare costs brought about by drug abuse, but also due to reduced productivity.
Stress will always be present in any workplace. The long hours, the deadlines, the differences in opinion—all of them are natural contributors to a worker’s stress levels, and they are in workplaces to stay, whether you like it or not. Some workplaces, however, are far too stressful that workers end up extremely stressed-out, cynical, and depressed. Some even resort to drugs to numb themselves. Workplaces that drive some of its workers to these places are, without a doubt, toxic ones.
Dispensing medication to patients is an integral part of a nurse’s job. Stealing it from them for personal use, however, is not. Unfortunately, none of the nurses from the state of Virginia featured in an investigative report conducted by The News Leader seem to have gotten that memo, as these nurses steal drugs from patients who actually needed them.
Motorists in Victoria can expect more roadside drug testing in the state this year, as police vow to double their testing efforts in light of the increased road toll in Victoria in 2014, says an ABC news article.
Let’s face it: getting rid of your drinking problem is easier said than done. After all, your drinking problem is actually an addiction, and addictions don’t go away easily. Quitting alcohol also seems to be harder for those who smoke too. This is actually what a recent study is saying, that to quit drinking, one must quit smoking first.
It can be quite unsettling when you read an article that features people who confess they use drugs in the workplace. Even more unsettling are claims that being high helps them do their jobs better.
When we talk about drugs that are a workplace hazard, people often think of the usual suspects like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and ice, among others. What many don’t realise is that prescribed medications can pose such a health and safety risk in the workplace too. Employers with workplace drug policies in place also need to realise that prescription medication use or abuse in the workplace can be the toughest drug problem they will have to face.