1300 DRUGSAFE 
So you noticed that a colleague at work had been acting rather oddly the past week.
First, you see him just staring blankly into space while sitting at his desk. Then, as you passed by each other on your way to the water cooler, you notice that your co-worker’s eyes are bloodshot and glazed. Later, as he handed you some documents, you couldn’t help but notice that he keeps on wearing long-sleeved shirts even when the weather is hot. With everything you’ve observed, you are beginning to suspect your work colleague is using drugs.
If you suspect that a colleague is taking drugs, you cannot just ignore it and hope it will pass. Especially if that colleague also happens to be a friend. Just consider the impact drugs can have on your colleague, their family, your employer/company and your other co-workers.
Make sure there is drug abuse
Before you go around talking to your colleague or to someone from human resources about your suspicions, you need to be reasonable certain that there is indeed the potential of drug abuse.
Some common illnesses have the same symptoms as drug abuse, and you need to be sure that you’re colleague isn’t just stressed out, suffering from insomnia, or just plain sick from something else.
Educate yourself about drug addiction
You would do well to read up on drug addiction facts, which would help you learn the tell-tale signs of drug addiction in the workplace. Also take note of your colleague’s performance at work. Are there more errors than usual in their work? Is he or she absent most of the time?
Their behaviour around the office can often tell the story. If the behaviour starts making an adverse impact on your company’s otherwise healthy workplace culture, then it is time to do something about it.
Take notes
All your observations about your colleague should be put in writing. Be sure to keep these private, as you do not want to implicate someone who may be innocent. Your notes should include important details, such as:
- dates and times of incidents
- witnesses to such incidents
- the work tasks affected by your colleague’s activities
If you think you have gathered enough evidence and believe that your colleague is in fact a drug abuser, it is time to take action. Protect yourself, your other colleagues and your company.
Follow procedures outlined in your workplace drug policy
Before making any kind of move, make sure that your company has undertaken drug safety policy development. You must have a clearly-worded drug policy in place. If the company has such a policy, follow the procedures outlined in it when it comes to reporting transgressors.
So what if your company has no workplace drug policy? One thing you can do is talk to someone from human resources or the most appropriate person in your company. This could be a manager or a supervisor. Many organisations, particularly the bigger ones, have training programs in place that equip them to handle cases of drug addiction and alcoholism in the workplace.
You can also talk to your health and safety representative, or even a member of a formal committee that is concerned with health and safety in the workplace. Share with any of them your concerns about your co-worker, and show them your documentation.
Don’t feel guilty about reporting a drug-addicted colleague
It’s but natural feel a twinge of guilt about reporting a colleague with a drug problem to management.
However, while it is unfortunate that you had to find yourself in such a position, never for a moment think that what you’re thinking about doing is wrong. If anything, reporting your colleague is the right thing to do.
You are not just helping prevent potential disasters at work that may arise out of one’s drug abuse. Reporting your colleague is also the best thing you can do to help that person. Once your colleague’s drug abuse is confirmed, that should pave the way for the professional help he or she needs. By reporting a drug addicted colleague, you will be a major contributor to his or her safety and well-being.
Talking to the affected colleague could be tricky
Now you might be thinking about talking to your colleague yourself, especially if you’re friends. However, this option could get real tricky real fast. Drug abusers in general tend to get very defensive about their drug habit. They are likely to become enraged at the thought of you telling them about your suspicions. So unless you’re a trained professional, we don’t recommend taking this route.
If, in any case, you’re close to the colleague in question and you’d like to give it a try anyway, we recommend consulting a drug counsellor on how best to talk to a drug abuser about his drug problem. Preferably, talk to your colleague outside of working hours and away from the workplace. It’s absolutely important that you remain calm and non-judgemental when talking to the person. Explain how his apparent drug use is affecting you and everyone else at work. It can help if you give concrete, undeniable examples.
Most importantly, distinguish between the habit and the person. We want to condemn the habit, but not the individual. And keep your workplace safe!
