Substance Abuse Programme Tool

Duration: Drawing up a standard substance abuse programme approximately 15 minutes, a tailored programme approximately 2 hours.
Content: A standard template that can be customized to suit your organization if desired.
Result: Guidance that supports the prevention of substance abuse and addiction problems in the workplace.

Draw up a substance abuse programme

• For whom? 
  The substance abuse programme should be drawn up in cooperation between the organization’s management and employee representatives as well as experts in occupational safety and health and occupational health care.
• Benefits? 
  The substance abuse program helps increase occupational safety by preventing substance abuse and reducing health risks and costs caused by risky substance use or gambling.

A substance abuse programme is a guideline in which the organization defines the practical ways of solving substance abuse, smoking and gambling by the personnel in a constructive manner to benefit both the employee and the organization. The substance abuse programme defines, among other things, how to prevent adverse effects, how to address the problem and how the responsibilities are divided.

Problematic substance use has been shown to be associated with mental health disorders. The high consumption of the most commonly used substance, alcohol, on average doubles the risk of severe depression and increases long sick leaves granted due to mental health disorders.

Experimentation and use of intoxicating substances have increased, the use of tobacco products is still widespread and there is a relatively new threat of problematic gambling.

The substance abuse programme tool allows you to create a standard or more extensive substance abuse programme

The Substance Abuse Programme Tool can be used to draw up a substance abuse programme that suits your organization. The tool includes one standard substance abuse programme template that is suitable for everyone. However, the substance abuse programme can be further refined. 

Is the substance abuse programme statutory?

The law does not directly obligate all organizations to draw up a substance abuse programme. According to the Occupational Health Care Act, a substance abuse programme is mandatory if the employer organises drug tests for its personnel.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the employer must ensure the health and safety of employees at work. As a result, risks related to the use of intoxicants must also be prevented and appropriately addressed at the workplace. The substance abuse programme is a practical tool for implementing this obligation.