Drugs & Alcohol Explained
Drugs Explained
Drugs, whether illegal or prescription/over-the-counter medication, can impair your judgement, ability and individual performance in the workplace. Most importantly, drugs can put your life and the lives of others in danger.
The use or possession of any illegal drug (as defined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) during the working day is strictly prohibited for the majority of businesses.
Drug Classifications:
Class A - Ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, LSD, mescaline, methadone, morphine, opium, magic mushrooms and injectable forms of Class B drugs.
Possession = Up to 7 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Supply = Up to life in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Class B - Oral preparations of speed, barbiturates, codeine and methaqualone (Mandrax) and crystal meth.
Possession = Up to 5 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Supply = Up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Class C - Anabolic steroids, cannabis, ketamine, tranquillisers and GHB.
Possession = Up to 2 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Supply = Up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
All drugs can affect a person’s health in different ways. Immediate risks are overdose and adverse reaction, and long-term use risks include liver, kidney and heart problems, as well as brain damage. Depression, tiredness, weight loss, mood swings, bad performance, panic attacks, irritability, memory loss, dizziness and mental health problems are also common side-effects and indications of drug use.
Driving, operating machinery or working whilst under the influence of drugs carries the same risks as with alcohol use. No one should report for work having consumed or in possession of an illegal drug. Furthermore, anyone taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines should also declare this to their line manager or HR team to ensure that they do not cause dizziness or drowsiness - effects which could also compromise safety.
Alcohol Explained
Alcohol, a liquid formed by the fermentation of sugar, is the most widely used central-acting drug in the world. It is a legal substance for individuals over 18 years, but it carries restrictions as it can cause serious harm.
When you drink alcohol it rapidly enters your bloodstream and circulates to various parts of the body within minutes. Alcohol affects the brain, causing slurred speech, loss of inhibition, clumsiness, an increased risk of accident and slow reflexes. The use of alcohol whilst at work is therefore dangerous and unacceptable.
You should always be able to start your work with a ZERO ALCOHOL LEVEL in your body. This means that you must not drink alcohol immediately prior to starting work and/or give your body adequate time to process any alcohol it has received. Therefore:
- You cannot drink more than 7 units of alcohol in the 24 hours prior to commencing work.
- You must not drink at all for at least 8 hours immediately prior to starting work.
One unit of alcohol for drinks of an average strength:
- Half a pint lager, beer or cider.
- One 25ml measure of spirit.
- Half a glass of wine (87.5ml).
The strength of alcohol in a drink must be shown on each bottle or can as a percentage of the whole drink. This is known as %ABV, or ‘Alcohol by Volume’. Drinking responsibly makes sure there is no permanent harm to your health and avoids alcoholic poisoning. A dependency or addiction can develop with alcohol. The UK Government advises that men should drink no more than 3 or 4 units per day and women should drink no more than 2 or 3.
Remember - avoid alcohol completely if you are driving, operating machinery, on any medication, pregnant, in a safety critical situation and whenever at work.