In the competitive world of business, a company's success is highly dependent on the performance and productivity of its team. However, recent studies conducted at Cardiff University and funded by the Health & Safety Executive have discovered that employee productivity is dramatically reduced when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects work performance in general but also results in higher rates of absence from work, accidents, illness and death, with all their related costs. It is therefore an important health and safety issue in its own right. According to recent studies, findings suggest that:

• Absence from work is 2 - 3 times higher for drug and alcohol users than for other employees;
• Employees with drug / alcohol dependency problems may claim three times as many sickness benefits.
• In many workplaces, 20 to 25 per cent of accidents at work, involve intoxicated people injuring themselves and colleagues.