This authoritative book examines what we know and don't know about workforce and workplace substance involvement, including popular myths about the prevalence, causes, and productivity outcomes of employee substance use.

''Previous volumes have been well received and the present work should be no exception....In a field where advances contribute to the widening gap between clinician and researchers, this volume serves to close that distance.''-Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research, from a review of a previous volume

Abuse of drugs and alcohol may cause serious difficulties at work including deterioration in job performance. Abuse is caused by a range of personal, family, social or work situations or a combination of such factors. This report presents a variety of multidisciplinary approaches to the prevention, assistance, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol- and drug-related problems in the workplace. Although experience has shown the difficulty of eliminating substance abuse, the policies presented are likely to yield constructive results for workers and employers alike.

This monograph is based upon papers presented at a conference titled "Drugs in the Workplace: Research and Evaluation Data" which was held on September 15th and 16th, 1988 in Washington, D.C. The conference was sponsored by the Office of Workplace Initiatives, National Institute on Drug Abuse.

This comprehensive text provides clear explanations of the effects of drugs on human performance and the need for workplace drug testing. It provides essential information on the regulatory and legal frameworks around the world, how to set policies and coverage of all aspects of drug analysis and the associated interpretation of results.Contents include:* epidemiology of drug use in the working population* the evidence base and guidelines for workplace drug testing* legal, regulatory aspects and policies for drugs and alcohol* urine and alternative sample collection process* analytical techniques and specimen adulteration.Case studies of successful programmes are also included to illustrate the principles discussed.Written by internationally acknowledged experts this informative book will be essential reading for anyone interested in workplace drug testing or setting up such a system including clinical and forensic toxicologists, occupational health physicians, nurses, human resources, drug counselling and treatment providers, analytical chemists and lawyers.Alain Verstraete is Professor at the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium and Department Head of the Toxicology Laboratory of the Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.