As part of its crackdown on drug-drivers this year, Ballarat highway patrol cars will be carrying drug tests that will weed out motorists who drive under the influence of addictive substances, according to report by David Jeans for The Courier. (more…)
In a society that is gradually becoming more conscious of the impact substance abuse has on the workplace, more and more businesses are now implementing random drug testing programs on their workforce. Airplane pilots, truck drivers, train conductors, and anyone who operates heavy machinery are being made to undergo drug tests, under the premise that they hold safety-sensitive jobs. But what about our physicians?
Whether we like it or not, our health and our lives are typically in the hands of our doctors of medicine. What if that doctor who gives us our medications and performs surgery on us abuses drugs? The absolute horror this idea brings has brought forth the call for random drug tests for doctors as well.
Read MoreIt’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.
If you’re an employer, it is your responsibility to keep your workplace drug safe, and here are some ways you can do just that.
Read More
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.
Is your workplace toxic? Here are some signs that it is.
Read More
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.
Last year, 248 people were killed on Victorian roads, according to police. That is five more than in 2013, and it marks the first time in eight years that the death toll increased. (more…)
Read More
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.