Drug and Alcohol Awareness

DandA© : Training for Managers, Supervisors etc

The company must provide structured management training courses in order to equip Managers and Supervisors with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective drugs and alcohol policy maintenance.

ScreenSafe UK encourages and enables managers, supervisors and other such "policy guardians" to quickly identify employee drug-abuse in their workforce. ScreenSafe UK's DandA© course is a half-day training course covering alcohol, illegal drugs, "legal highs", prescription and OTC (over the counter) drugs. Aimed at empowering delegates to deal with the subject confidently, responsibly and effectively, using a proven protocol that protects them and their company from possible legal challenges when testing employees for the presence of drugs in circumstances involving accidents, incidents and where reasonable suspicion arises from individuals' behaviour. The course is ideally suitable for groups of up to 15 persons.

Goals of drug abuse training

  1. Present convincing and factual evidence that drug-abuse does exist in the workplace. (Many managers are either naive or in denial about this subject because they don't know how to deal with it).
  2. Underline the fact that supervisors and managers have a duty of care to their employer to help prevent drug-abuse in their workplace and to personally support a Drug-Free Workplace companywide.
  3. Enable easy, quick, and accurate identification of when an employee may be abusing drugs or be under the influence of drugs (legal or illegal) at work.
  4. Enable managers to confidently address the issue of drug abuse with an affected employee. Delegates will also be able to call for post accident/incident and reasonable suspicion drug tests in a manner that is legally defensible for the company.

DandA© training is workplace drug-use deterrence education at its very best. Why?

Because supervisors and managers learn how to recognise the symptoms of drug-abusing employees, they learn how to approach employees in a non-confrontational manner and learn when to authorise drug screening in a legally defensible manner.

Training helps to eliminate employee drug-use in the workplace and it protects companies from potential claims of wrongful dismissal.

One of the most valuable and effective types of drug tests (and yet, usually the least utilised by most companies) is the "Reasonable Suspicion" or "For Cause" drug test.

Why one of the most valuable?

Because by the time an "untrained" supervisor or manager has sufficient reason to suspect drug use by an employee, they are most often right! However, they are also often too late in resolving the situation and it becomes a workplace crisis or something that is often left to fester. Educating supervisors and managers in the recognition of substance abuse indicators (physical, mental, behavioural symptoms) and how to follow a legally defensible procedure for carrying out a drug test is the most effective method of preventing a drug-related crisis within their workforce.

Why is it the least utilised?

Approaching an employee, and expressing a suspicion of drug or alcohol use is uncomfortable for most managers. In fact, it is so uncomfortable for some managers, that they become "enablers" i.e. they look the other way, time and time again, with the result that the employee continues to abuse drugs and continues to go unchallenged. Unless managers are properly trained and thoroughly prepared, then almost certainly they will be unsure of what to do, how to do it, and which words to use even if they did.

Instruction and Assessment Methods

Classroom-based tuition includes a comprehensive and interactive presentation supported by a full range of placebo drugs and associated paraphernalia, handouts and leaflets.

ScreenSafe UK has designed the DandA© training course to convince even the most reluctant manager (those that refuse to believe in drug screening or who do not consider it their problem) of the serious need to arrest the increasing trend for drug and alcohol use in the workplace. Our training program highlights to managers their personal responsibility to be diligently active in the management processes of their employer. Candidates learn of substance abuse physical factors and other indicators that will help them in identifying drug-abusing employees at the early stage before a workplace crisis occurs.

Outcomes of Training

Expertly trained (and certified) supervisors and managers and other such required employees, become both enabled and empowered. They possess the skills and knowledge necessary to take responsible action with the confidence needed to help protect themselves, their company and fellow employees from the dangers that drug-abusing employees create. Companies that have initiated Drug-Abuse Awareness Training programs have shown positive confirmation results for one or more drugs, for up to 86.4% of instances of reasonable suspicion drug tests. Therefore taking positive action recognizing and immediately removing the risks from the working environment before an accident or incident occurs.

The more you LEARN, the more you EARN.

Have you ever noticed that the word LEARN contains the word EARN? Perhaps that is because the higher level of "education" you achieve, the higher level of "benefits" you are likely to command as well. Most drug education programs have never been evaluated. Of those for which some evaluative information is available, the following generalizations can be made:

  1. Instruction is most effective when it begins early in the process and is continuous;
  2. One-shot programs are less successful than those that are part of a multigrade, comprehensive programme;
  3. Full employee involvement enhances the program success
  4. The trainer plays a critical role, and specialist trainer knowledge is essential.

You would not expect to throw the keys of a JCB to an employee and expect them to be able to operate it effectively and efficiently. The same concept should apply to the Drug and Alcohol policy.

Training and education helps to eliminate employee drug-use in the workplace and it protects companies from potential claims of wrongful dismissal.

If you have any further questions or you wish to discuss your specific training needs then please contact our friendly and professional customer service team on 08450 505590 or via email (enquiries@screensafeuk.co.uk). All enquiries are strictly confidential.