April Is Alcohol Awareness Month

During the month of April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, and reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help.

Alcohol in the Workplace

Alcohol abuse, which can lead to alcoholism, is a pattern of drinking resulting in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships and ability to work. The length of time alcohol stays in the human body depends largely on the individual’s physical makeup. Generally, it remains detectable for 1 to 12 hours after consumption. The NCADD published these facts about the effects of alcohol abuse in the workplace:

  • Workers who abused alcohol were 2.7 times more likely to have injury-related absences than those without drinking problems.
  • Breathalyzer tests detected alcohol in 16 percent of emergency room patients injured at work.
  • Analyses of workplace fatalities showed that at least 11 percent of the victims had been drinking.
  • Large federal surveys show that 24 percent of workers report drinking during the workday at least once in the past year.
  • One-fifth of workers and managers across a wide range of industries and company sizes report that a coworker’s on- or off-the-job drinking jeopardized their own productivity and safety.

Alcohol Testing Options

Employer Solutions, a business of Quest Diagnostics, offers a full line of lab-based and instant drug testing products and services that allow employers to make confident and informed decisions about prospective and current employees. Alcohol testing can be performed on a number of specimen types, including urine, saliva, blood and breath. Read this whitepaper to learn about the various testing options.

For more information about alcohol testing, contact Employer Solutions online, or call (800) 877-7484.