Approximately 5 million drug addicts in Pakistan are not only destroying their lives but also affecting every sector of society, including the business sector causing accidents, reducing or loss of productivity, poor work and absenteeism as well as other serious adverse effects, says a report prepared by Pakistan Drug Free Foundation. Drug addiction affects all parts of society as the rapidly increasing number of drug addicts in the country in the business sector as the ratio of the drug users in labor class and lower middle class increases day by due to one or other reasons.

Approximately an addict spends Rs150 per day on drugs. There are 5 million drug addicts in the country, so 500,000 addicts spend Rs750 million in just one day, in a month 22,500 million and in a year Rs270 billion. These are the direct expenses on drugs. There is no data available on the losses borne by our economy due to absenteeism, wastage of time, low productivity and accidents of drug abuser in workplaces.

One of the consequences of drug abuse in the workplace is that the economy of Pakistan pays a big price for it - employee accident and errors, high illness rates, wastage of time, low productivity and absenteeism are just a few examples of the affects of illicit drug use.

A survey conducted by the United States` health and human service indicates that drug abuser functions at approximately 65 per cent of their capacity.

Up to 40 per cent of industrial fatalities and 47 per cent of industrial injuries can be linked to drug abuse. Employees who abuse drugs are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and five times more likely to file a worker`s compensation claim. An estimated 500 million work days are lost annually due alcohol and drug abuse in America.

• Employees who abuse drugs are more likely to request early dismissal or time off, 2.5 times more likely to be late for work.

• Illicit drug users are more than twice as likely than those who do not abuse drugs.

• Employees who abuse drugs cost their employers about twice as much in medical claims.

• According to the United States National Institute of Drug Addiction, almost 10 per cent of all employees use drugs.

According to the data mentioned above, the problem of drug abuse at workplaces is more in the developed countries of the world. This problem also exists in Pakistan but no authentic data is available about the financial losses incurred due to drug abuse at workplaces.

At this point, some questions are raised for the authorities who are responsible for such a financial disaster.

There is a strong need to launch a grand operation to eliminate the silent killer by government and the business community.

HAIDER MEHER
Planning & development manager
Drug Free Pakistan Foundation