Half day open training event held in Toronto, Ontario.

1. Addictions and substance abuse in
the Canadian workplace
by Toronto Training and HR
November 2013

2. CONTENTS
5-6
7-8
9-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-43
44-48
49
50-51
Definitions
The multi-dimensional problem
Substance abuse
Responsibility of managers
Impact on co-workers
Prevention
Treatment
Recovery
Dependence
Types of addiction
Alcohol and drugs in Canada
Helping employees with a drink problem
Testing policies
Drug tests
Drill
Gambling
Internet addiction
Example policy
Conclusion and questions
Page 2

3. Introduction
Page 3

4. Introduction to Toronto Training
and HR
Toronto Training and HR is a specialist training and
human resources consultancy headed by Timothy Holden
10 years in banking
10 years in training and human resources
Freelance practitioner since 2006
The core services provided by Toronto Training and HR
are:
Training event design
Training event delivery
Reducing costs, saving time plus improving
employee engagement and morale
Services for job seekers
Page 4

5. Definitions
Page 5

6. Definitions
•
•
•
•
Substance abuse
Addictions
Gambling addiction
Internet addiction
Page 6

7. The multi-dimensional
problem
Page 7

8. The multi-dimensional problem
• Behavioural
• Emotional
• Physical
Page 8

9. Substance abuse
Page 9

10. Substance abuse 1 of 2
• Commonly abused substances
• Types of harm that can result
• Performance indicators of a
substance abuser
• Behaviours of a substance
abuser
• Assessing the workplace
• Developing a substance abuse
workplace committee
• Designing a substance abuse
policy
Page 10

11. Substance abuse 2 of 2
•
•
•
•
•
Training managers
Educating employees
Responding to a crisis
Types of help
Referring the troubled
employee to get help
• Return to work meetings after
absence
• An effective return to work
program
Page 11

12. Responsibility of
managers
Page 12

13. Responsibility of managers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Responsible for
NOT responsible for
Legally sensitive areas
Tell-tale signs
Confidentiality
Traps
Employee one-on-ones
Page 13

14. Impact on co-workers
Page 14

15. Impact on co-workers
• Performance and attitudes
negatively affected
• Reported being put in danger
• Have been injured
• Worked harder
• Must re-do work
• Cover for a co-worker
Page 15

16. Prevention
Page 16

17. Prevention
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Education
Confidential screening
Referrals
Confidential follow-up care
Wellness programs
Policies and testing
Employee Assistance Programs
Page 17

18. Treatment
Page 18

19. Treatment
•
•
•
•
•
•
Transition
Stabilization
Early recovery
Middle recovery
Late recovery
Maintenance
Page 19

20. Recovery
Page 20

21. Recovery
•
•
•
•
•
Inpatient care
Residential treatment programs
Intensive outpatient care
Outpatient care
Community support programs
Page 21

22. Dependence
Page 22

23. Dependence
• Psychological
• Physical
Page 23

24. Types of addiction
Page 24

25. Types of addiction
•
•
•
•
Chronic
Progressive
Primary
Fatal
Page 25

26. Alcohol and drugs in
Canada
Page 26

27. Alcohol and drugs in Canada
• Alcohol
• Drugs
Page 27

28. Helping employees with a
drink problem
Page 28

29. Helping employees with a drink
employee
•
•
•
•
Triggers
Identify the stimulus
Alcohol-free alternatives
A plan to deal with the issue
Page 29

30. Testing policies
Page 30

31. Testing policies
• Is it legal?
• Questions to ask
• Evaluating the reasonable
necessity of testing
• Court case testing guidelines
• Communications, Energy and
Paperworkers Union of Canada,
Local 30 v. Irving Pulp & Paper
Ltd
Page 31

32. Drug tests
Page 32

33. Drug tests
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Typical questions
Key statistics
Pre-hire testing
Post-hire testing
Contract employees
Interpreting results
Dilute specimens
Page 33

34. Drill
Page 34

35. Drill
Page 35

36. Gambling
Page 36

37. Gambling 1 of 7
• History of gambling
• Situational and structural
characteristics
• Pathological gambling
• The prevalence of problems
• What employers can do
• Metaphor-chronic disease
• Public health model
• The impact of technology
Page 37

38. Gambling 2 of 7
THE GROWTH OF ONLINE
GAMBLING
• Many Governments appear to
be fixated on revenue raising
via gambling
• Online gaming providers appear
to be using every marketing
tool to increase revenue
• Global gambling has grown
substantially in the last ten
years
Page 38

39. Gambling 3 of 7
THE GROWTH OF ONLINE GAMBLING
(CONTINUED)
• There appears to be a global
expansion strategy, particularly
casino gambling
• Technology is providing
'convenience‘ gambling
• Technology may be making
gambling more socially acceptable to
traditional low frequency gamblers
(e.g., women, retired people, etc.).
Page 39

40. Gambling 4 of 7
RISK FACTORS FOR PROBLEM
GAMBLING
• Gender
• Interest in gambling
• Ambition to get rich
• Distorted cognitions about gambling
skills and knowledge
• Relying on loans
• Denial of gambling problems
• Limited entertainment options
Page 40

41. Gambling 5 of 7
RISK FACTORS FOR PROBLEM
GAMBLING (CONTINUED)
• Shift work led to social isolation
• Access to gambling and loans
• Exposure to gambling
• Influence of gambling promotions
• Influence of gambling colleagues
Page 41

42. Gambling 6 of 7
WARNING SIGNS
• Work performance deteriorates-the
person is preoccupied or has trouble
concentrating, is absent or late for
meetings and misses deadlines
• Frequent unexplained absences or
disappearances from work
• Eager to organize and participate in
betting opportunities
• Pay is requested in lieu of vacation
time-large blocks of vacation time are
not taken
• Complains about mounting debts

43. Gambling 7 of 7
WARNING SIGNS (CONTINUED)
• Excessive use of the telephone for
personal calls
• Experiences mood swings, often
related to winning and losing streaks
• Credit card or loan bills are mailed
to work rather than home
• Increasingly spends more time
gambling during lunch hours and
coffee breaks
• False claims are made against
expense accounts
• Theft of company property

44. Internet addiction
Page 44

45. Internet addiction 1 of 4
QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Do you feel preoccupied with the
Internet (think about previous
online activity or anticipate your
next online session)?
• Do you feel the need to use the
Internet with increasing amounts of
time in order to achieve
satisfaction?
• Have you repeatedly made
unsuccessful efforts to control, cut
back, or stop Internet use?
Page 45

46. Internet addiction 2 of 4
QUESTIONS TO ASK (CONTINUED)
• Do you feel restless, moody,
depressed, or irritable when
attempting to cut down or stop
Internet use?
• Do you stay online longer than
originally intended?
• Have you jeopardized or risked the
loss of a significant relationship,
job, education or career
opportunity because of the
Internet?
Page 46

47. Internet addiction 3 of 4
QUESTIONS TO ASK (CONTINUED)
• Have you lied to family members,
therapists, or others to conceal the
extent of involvement with the
Internet?
• Do you use the Internet as away of
escaping from problems or of
relieving a dysphonic mood (e.g.
feelings of helpless-ness, guilt,
anxiety, depression)?
Page 47

48. Internet addiction 4 of 4
• Tips to deal with an addiction to
the internet
Page 48

49. Example policy
Page 49

50. Conclusion and questions
Page 50

51. Conclusion and questions
Summary
Videos
Questions
Page 51