A supervisor's role in workplace drug abuse

On-the-job drug abuse has become a major concern throughout business, industry, and the professions. Health care supervisors interact daily with their employees and are responsible for work production and performance standards. Likewise, they are usually first to detect changes in these standards and changes in their personnel. The supervisor plays a pivotal role in any drug abuse policy. The supervisor should create an atmosphere of intolerance with regard to drug abuse and recognize that the employer's most persistent personnel problems are usually rooted in the personal problems of its employees. The employer's overall goal should be improving the work environment and maintaining high levels of job performance and productivity while restoring and maintaining the employee's self-image and the employer's reputation in the community.