Here are some important facts about alcohol and other substances that may be affecting your employees and their performance:
Alcohol
- A 12 oz. can of beer, 5 oz. glass of wine and 1-½ oz. shot of hard liquor contain equal amounts of alcohol
- Cold showers, coffee and/or exercise do not quicken sobriety
- Each 1 ½ oz. of alcohol takes the body, on average, an hour to process and eliminate
- Immediate signs include small/large motor control problems, slurred speech, recognizable odor
Marijuana
- Typically smoked, can be ingested
- Immediate signs include bloodshot or red eyes and possibly hunger
- Affects judgment, coordination and motor abilities
- Long-term effects include lack of concentration and motivation
- Can be detected 30+ days after use
Synthetic Marijuana
- Typically smoked
- Mix of organic plant materials mixed with dangerous synthetic compounds
- Immediate signs: elevated heart rate, nausea, headaches, dry mouth, irritability, disorientation, hallucinations, vomiting or sickness, aggression
- Not detected in standard drug test for marijuana
- Up to ten times stronger than marijuana, causing seizures, overdoses, suicides
- Not detected in standard drug test for marijuana
- Detection dependent on chemicals used and testing battery
Cocaine
- Typically snorted—can be smoked
- Crack cocaine is one of the most addictive substances known
- Immediate signs include talkativeness, excitability, repeated sniffing, dilated pupils
- Excessive use can induce vomiting, rapid heart beat, tremors and damage to lining in nasal cavities
- Can be detected 2-4 days after use
Amphetamines/"Meth"
- Typically snorted, smoked, injected, ingested
- Also called: speed, uppers, fluff, glass, crystal, ice
- Immediate signs include dilated pupils, distorted thinking
- Long term effects include weight loss, restlessness, anxiety, mood swings, panic, agitation, paranoia, brain damage, dental problems, scabs
- Can be detected 1-2 days after use
Heroin
- Most often injected; however, high-purity heroin can be smoked or snorted
- Processed from morphine—extracted from the seed of poppy plants
- Immediate signs include euphoria, disorientation, constricted pupils, dry mouth, heavy extremities
- Stays in system 4-7 days
