Substance misuse ‘a headache for firms’

Irish businesses are losing millions of euro each year through workplace accidents caused by drugs and alcohol misuse, according to one of Ireland’s leading drug abuse experts.

Director of the Aisling Group, Marie Byrne, says that many accidents, claims and shoddy workmanship arise from employees or management who are suffering the after-effects of taking illegal drugs or abusing alcohol.

Loss of productivity from staff either too ‘hungover’ to work properly or those who take sick-leave because of their dependency also hike up costs to their employers, she claims.