Drugs in the Workplace: What You Need to Know

For quite some time the issue of allowing the use of drugs in the workplace has remained debatable. Some people believe it is acceptable depending on the type of drug in question. Some employers are ok having employees use such drugs as prescription drugs while some are ok even with the use of illegal drugs. Still, others hold that the use of drugs regardless of its nature is not acceptable in the working environment. I would point out that the use of drugs in the workplace is okay, provided it is of a certain nature. An illegal drug, for instance, is very unhealthy. Not only does it pose health complications, but the end effect is that it lowers an employee’s productivity, and hinders their interaction with their colleagues. As such it creates an intense and unsettling environment full of arguments, and disagreements, and could turn chaotic and violent, in which case they could be personal injuries in case of a fight and even the destruction of property in the end, such an occurrence adversely affects the workplace’s productivity and ultimately lowers its profitability. With this in mind, illegal drugs should not be tolerated in the workplace. 

Prescription drugs, on the other hand, are very healthy and key in boosting the employee productivity. Such drugs as painkillers may come in handy in fighting fatigue that is key in lowering the performance of an employee. In the case of sickness, taking prescription drugs facilitates the quick recovery of an employee and reduces the time it takes for such an employee to resume normal productivity. In fighting such factors as diseases and illnesses, as well as, fatigue that lower the productivity of the workforce, it is important that the workplace allows for the consumption of prescription drugs. In as much as these drugs may have such side effects as dizziness and nervousness, these are shot time and fade away in no time, therefore do very little to impact employee performance negatively.