[Evaluation and management aspects of drug-abusers in the workplace]

In Italy a recent legislation introduce detailed procedures to detect drug abusers, which had to be carried out in work settings. The purpose of the legislative document is to reduce the risk of work-related accidents which may affect both the working and the general population. In fact for the time being the procedure is foreseen for only a few work categories with a higher level of responsibility for third parties. This action is based on the adoption of the indications of the EU Drugs Action Plan (2005-2008), and it is mainly oriented to prevention through an early detection of occasional drug abusers to hopefully reduce the number of habitual drug consumers. Firm proprietors and manager are responsible of the overall procedure and the occupational physicians are responsible of the application of many parts of it. The paper discuss many aspects related to the application, including: physician responsibility against the law, how to carry out efficient and accurate drug testing, collaboration with other public agencies devoted to rehabilitation of drug-abuse patients, methodological aspects that can allow the procedure to be effective.