October 2015 Newsletter

Government to Outlaw Legal Highs The Government’s recent announcement that it plans to outlaw novel psychoactive substances (NPS), better known as ‘legal highs,’ serves as a reminder that recreational drug taking remains a problem both in society and in the workplace. While the issue of staff being at work with narcotic substances in their systems is a constant concern for employers – particularly in higher risk sectors – the impending legislation on NPS has highlighted the additional threat from types of drugs that have often flown below the radar in the war against drugs on-the-job. Part of the problem has been the frequent media use of the term ‘legal high’ which has led some to deduce that these substances are more benign and less risky than mainstream banned drugs such as cannabis or cocaine. However, although the effects of NPS are often similar to those induced by illegal drugs, the effects can often be much more severe. For example ‘synthetic cannabinoids’ – used as a supposedly legal substitute for cannabis – have been found in some cases to be 97 per cent more toxic than cannabis itself. Moreover the many unknowns associated with legal highs add to the risks involved. For instance less is known about the physiological effects of NPS, or the impact of particular dosages or indeed how long they linger in people’s bloodstreams. The 2015 Global Drugs Survey indicates that NPS are more prevalent in the UK than we might imagine with nearly 9 per cent of people reporting they had used such substances in the past twelve months. In fact both NPS and legal drugs, represent a growing workplace risk according to a recent study of 2,600 workers, 28 per cent admitted going to work at some point with drugs in their system, including so-called ‘legal highs’, cannabis and other illegal narcotics. Moreover, one in 20 factory workers questioned actually admitted using industrial machinery after taking drugs. The negative impact of substance misuse at work can range from a decline in productivity, morale, and profitability through to the very real possibility of fatal accidents in higher-risk occupations such as driving or machine operating.

For more information on October 2015 Newsletter talk to Safety Services Direct Ltd