Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection
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Purpose
To apply preservation treatments, including digitisation, to a high value and vulnerable Historical collection of items held in the Darwin and Alice Springs libraries so that the items may be accessed without causing further damage to the original items and provide accessibility for stakeholders.
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Please note: this document is part of the Historical Collection and the information contained within may be out of date.
This copy is a reproduction of an original record. Please note that the quality of the original record may be poor and cannot be enhanced with the scanning process.
Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
Contents
Alcohol and Other Drugs: What workers need to know... 2 Effects in the workplace... 3
What is a drug?... 4 Alcohol... 5
Tobacco - passive smoking... 11 Cannabis... 12
Amphetamines ... 13
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs... 15
Is your drug use affecting any of these areas in your life?... 16 How to help a workmate ... 17
How long for clean urine? ... 18
Alcohol and Other Drugs: Agencies in the NT.. 0
What workers need to know
0
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Alcohol can be relaxing, enjoyable and is very much part of the Territorian way of life.
Despite these benefits alcohol and many other drugs, can be harmful to individuals, families, the community and also to workplaces.
Alcohol B.. Other Drugs
This booklet provides you with information on
alcohol and other drugs.
Therefore, it will help you make better
decisions on how and when you drink,
smoke or take other drugs and also make your workplace
safer.
Effects in the workplace
Alcohol and other drugs can impact on workplaces through:
• Conflict between co-workers;
• Increased chance of accidents;
• Poor work performance;
• More days off; and
• Costs in litigation and compensation claims.
Duty of care
Under the Work Health Act 7 986 an employer must provide and maintain a safe working environment. This includes making sure any employees using alcohol or other drugs are not putting their own or other's safety at risk.
The same Act also makes employees responsible for making workplaces safe. People at work have a responsibility to themselves and co-workers not to be affected by alcohol or other drugs while at work. This means following workplace policies and procedures to respond to and assist your co- workers if you suspect they may be under the influence. By doing so, you are protecting your safety and their safety.
Your workplace has a set
of
guidelines about alcohol and other drug use and misuse. Ask your manager or supervisor if you are unsureof
these guidelines.What workers need to know
0
What is
a drug?
A drug is any substance, with the exception of food and
water, that changes the way a person thinks, feels or behaves. Drugs can include prescription, over-the-counter medication, alcohol and illicit drugs such as cannabis, opiates and amphetamines.
Drugs are broadly categorised by their effect on a person's central nervous system (CNS):
Stimulants - speed up the CNS
(for example, amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine) Depressants - slow down the CNS
(for example, alcohol, cannabis, morphine, heroin) Hallucinogens - distort the way we see things
(for example, LSD, magic mushrooms, mescaline) Drugs affect people in many different ways. People's reactions to drugs depend on:
• How much of the drug is taken;
• Environment In which the drug is taken; and
• Previous use of the drug.
0
Alcohol & Other Drugsl
Alcohol
Alcohol is a legal and social drug. Alcohol slows the body down. Even after one drink a person's reflexes, judgment and coordination can be affected. When taken in large doses or mixed with other drugs it can
cause coma or death.
Alcohol is measured as standard drinks. A standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol.
Light beer
Regular beer
Wine
425 mis 285 mls 100 rnls
Picture courtesy of Australian Wine Distributors
,s . your standard?
Fortified wine
Spirits
--
60mls 30mls
All of these drinks have the same amount of pure alcohol: 10 grams.
Different drinks contain different amounts of pure alcohol. By law, all alcoholic packages now show the number of standard drinks they contain.
What workers need to know
0
Blood Alcohol Concentration {BAC}
The small intestine absorbs most of the alcohol. From there it passes straight into the bloodstream and all around the body.
The amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream is called his or her Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
The body gets rid of alcohol mostly through the liver. Small quantities are removed in breath, urine and sweat. The liver gets rid of 10 grams of alcohol (one standard drink) every hour.
This is a fixed rate and nothing can speed it up.
If you have been drinking the night before, it is quite possible to have alcohol in your system the next day. For example, if someone drank ten cans of heavy beer (15 standard drinks) from 6pm to 1 Opm, that person is still very likely to have alcohol in his or her system at 8am the next day.
Your BAC can only be measured accurately with a breathalyser or by analysing blood. Factors such as amount of food in the stomach and water in the body will affect BAC. Due to physical differences, women will almost always reach a higher BAC after drinking the same amount of alcohol as a man.
How can I sober up?
Black coffee, cold showers, physical exercise, vomiting and other home remedies will not help people lower their BAC because they can't make the liver work any faster. These activities will simply produce a wide-awake and possibly dangerous drunk rather than a safe sleepy one.
D
Alcohol 8.. Other Dr11gsHangover
You don't need to have alcohol in your system in order to be affected by alcohol. Working with a hangover makes every little task difficult. The main cause of a hangover is a lack of fluid in the body. Keep having water while you are drinking alcohol and try to have a big glass of water at the end.
This will help stop you dehydrating.
Safe levels
To help people reduce the risks associated with drinking, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia has developed these low risk guidelines:
n up to four standard drinks a day with at least two alcohol-free days.
up to two standard drinks a day with at least two alcohol-free days.
What workers need to know
8
You may experience the following effects after drinking alcohol:
Source: Adapted from Australian Drug Foundation -How Drugs Affect You, Alcohol
Alcohol 6.. Other Dr11gs
Long term effects of regular or heavy drinking
Nervous system . , . , - - - ; - - tingling and
loss of sensation in hands and feet.
Liver damage.
inflammation and bleeding of the stomach.
Inflammation of the pancreas.
.,.e Greater chance of / lung infections.
__.... High blood pressure and other heart and blood problems.
Females:
• greater risk of gynaecological problems,
• damage to foetus if pregnant.
Source: Adapted from Austrolian Drug Foundation -How Drugs Affect You, Alcohol
Nothing but time will make your BAC go down.
What workers need to know
0
Mixing alcohol with other drugs
Alcohol can greatly increase the effects of other drugs.
Mixing cannabis with alcohol can be dangerous because the effects of cannabis can be intensified in unpredictable ways.
Taking medication with alcohol can impair your judgment or coordination and even cause death. It can also reduce the effect of the medicine.
How can I
cut down my drinking?
If you are concerned about how much you
drink, here are some tips that will help you to drink less:
• Have something to eat before drinking - it will make you feel more full.
• Don't use alcohol as a thirst quencher - it dehydrates your body.
• Have a non-alcoholic drink before each alcoholic drink.
• Set yourself a limit (either number of drinks or amount of money you are prepared to spend).
• Buy smaller quantities of alcohol to take away.
• Avoid being with friends who drink heavily.
ID
Alcohol 8.. Other Drugsl
'
, '
• Avoid salty nibbles when drinking alcohol, they make you thirstier.
• Take small sips.
• Avoid shouts.
• Switch to drinks that have a lower alcohol content.
• Dilute your drink - for example, add soda to wine.
Tobacco - passive smoking
One of the biggest tobacco issues in the workplace is passive smoking. That means breathing in other people's cigarette smoke. It is associated with serious health risks like heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, asthma attacks and bronchitis. Less severe
effects include allergies, eye irritation and coughs.
~
Employers have an obligation to provide a safe working environment for workers and visitors. That's why many workplaces are smoke-free. Smokers still have the right to smoke, but not to affect other people. Sometimes it's difficult to be a smoker in a non-smoking environment and the introduction of a smoke-free policy at work is often the time many people choose to give up smoking.
If you would like help with giving up, the Qultline telephone number Is at the back of this booklet.
What workers need to know
G
Cannabis
The main effect of cannabis comes from deltra-9
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is stored in fatty tissue and is gradually released into the blood stream well after the 'stoned' feeling has disappeared. THC can remain in your system for a long time. How long will depend on:
• Your body;
• The quantity of THC consumed; and
• How often cannabis is taken.
G
Alcohol 8.. Other DrugsTHC takes an average of 28 days to get out of your system.
Cannabis can have a negative effect on:
• Thinking;
• Short-term memory;
• Body movement and coordination; and
• Judgment of distance.
The ability to drive or operate machinery is greatly impaired, even after smoking small amounts of cannabis.
It has been found that the best way to quit cannabis is to stop using it all together. Some people try to give up gradually by cutting back over time. This sometimes works but can result in people returning rapidly to heavy use.
Trying to give up?
Amphetamines
Amphetamines speed up messages to the brain. People often use amphetamines to make them more efficient at work and to cope with long hours and shift work. 'Speed' will help them to stay awake but it can also greatly alter their ability to think clearly, causing more errors to occur and reducing the overall quality of their work.
Long-term use of amphetamines can cause the following problems:
• Violence, often for no reason;
• Changing emotions;
• Reduced resistance to infection;
• Malnutrition; and
• Periods of psychosis.
What workers need to know
G
What is psychosis?
Long-term use of 'speed' can result in a condition known as
amphetamine psychosis.
Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, convulsions and extreme paranoia and other strange behaviour.
If someone you know is experiencing amphetamine psychosis, keep calm and give the person peace and quiet. Don't attempt to argue with them. If they become aggressive and out of control, call an ambulance.
a,
Alcohol B.. Other Dr11gsReducing speed
If you are wanting to cut down or cut out your speed use, contact your doctor or any of the other agencies listed at the end of this booklet.
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs
Many drugs are prescribed by doctors. Prescription and over- the-counter drugs can cause side effects that will affect your ability to think and perform your work, even when you follow the instructions. If you are taking prescription or over-the- counter drugs, consult your doctor or pharmacist, explain the type of work you do and find out exactly how you could be affected. Read directions and warning labels and follow them carefully.
Depending on the drug, it might be necessary for you to inform appropriate personnel - for example, the manager, supervisor or nurse, so alternative working arrangements can be made if necessary.
What workers need to know
G
If your drug use is affecting your relationships, your health, your work or causing legal problems, you should think about cutting down or stopping all together. For more information contact one of the agencies listed at the end of this booklet.
4D
Alcohol &. Other DrugsHow to help a workmate
Workers who notice poor or dangerous work practices of a workmate can help by taking either or both of these steps:
1. Speaking to him or her in a supportive, non- judgmental way. Express your concern and offer to help. Point out specific examples of work practices that have concerned you. Do not threaten, accuse or attempt to diagnose the problem. The purpose of approaching a fellow worker is to offer support and assistance, not to create disharmony.
2. Speak to your supervisor to let him or her know about your concerns. Remember, this is not 'dobbing on a mate'. In the long run, this will help your workmate who may be endangering his or her health and safety and that of co-workers.
What workers need to know
G
Remember:
• Stick to the facts of observed behaviour and work practices, not personal attacks or accusations.
• Be supportive, not judgmental - offer to listen and help, not lecture and criticise.
• Co-workers and supervisors are not trained counsellors so, at some point, it may be necessary to turn to the professionals.
• Be discreet - maintain confidentiality of any discussion with workmates regarding their problems.
• Continue to support, particularly if a workmate is re- entering the workplace after disciplinary action or counselling.
How long for clean urine?
The table opposite shows how long certain drugs can stay in your body. It should only be used as a guide. For a greater indication on how long drugs stay in your body, self-testing kits are available from the chemist.
Alcohol 6.. Other Drugs
Drug
Opiates Opium Morphine Heroin
Depressants Alcohol Barbituates
Benzodiazephines eg. Valium
Stimulants Cocaine Amphetamines
Hallucinogens LSD
Mescaline
Cannabinoids Single joint
Light smoker ( <1 joint a day) Heavy/ chronic smoker
Tirne
1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days
18-36 hours 2-10 days 1-6 weeks
2----4 days 1-2 days
8 hours 2-3 days
18 hours-5 days 5-10 days up to 11 weeks
What workers need to know •
Alcohol R Other Drugs
Crisis Line ..
ALICE SPRINGS
.. ... 1800 019 116
Alcoholics Anonymous. . ... 8953 0802 Alice Springs Community Care Centre (THS*) ... 8951 6711 Central Aust Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit
(CAAAPU) ... 8955 5336
Central Aust Alcohol & Other Drug Services, THS
(CMODS) 8951 7580
. .... 8952 3377 ... 89528412 .... 8953 4225 . ... 8952 5899 Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.
Drug & Alcohol Services Assoc. (DASA) Employee Assistance Services (EAS) Holyoake ..
D__ARWIN
Alcohol & Other Drug Services, THS (ADS) . Alcohol Awareness & Family Recovery ..
Foundation of Rehabilitation with Aboriginal Alcohol Related Difficulties (FORWMRD) ..
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Amity Community Services - Toll Free ..
. ... 8922 8399 . ... 8981 4095
. .... 8981 8673
··· 8981 9216 . 1800 629 683 . ... 8981 8030 Amity Community Services ..
ANSTI. ... 8988 2600
Banyan House ..
Community Care Centres (THS) Casuarina.
Darwin ... . Palmerston
fl
Alcohol 8.. Other Dr11gs... 8947 0832
... 8922 7301 . ... 8999 2876
. 8999 3344
Agencies in the NT
Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services Inc
(CMPS).. . ... 8984 4058 Detoxification Unit (ADS) ... 8948 0087 Employee Assistance Service (EAS).. . . 8941 1752 Salvation Army, The Bridge Program ... 8981 2500 GOVE
Living With Alcohol Program (LWA) ..
Nhulunbuy Community Care Centre (THS) ..
KATHERINE
Alcoholics Anonymous ..
Kalano ....
Katherine Alcohol & Drug Assoc. (KADA) ..
Katherine Community Care Centre (THS) ..
Living With Alcohol Program (THS).
TENNANT CREEK
. 8987 0354 .... 8987 0435
.... 8971 0323 ... 8972 3588 ... 8972 1888 ... 8973 8570 .... 8973 8947
Anyinginyi Congress (Alcohol After Care).. . ... 8962 2028 Barkly Region Alcohol & Drug Abuse Advisory Group
(BRADMG). . 8962 1912
Living With Alcohol Program. . ... 8962 4282 Tennant Creek Community Care Centre (THS).. . ... 8962 4218
Other useful contacts include:
Quitline: . .... 131 848
Work Health: .. . ... 8999 5010
*THS = Territory Health Services
What workers need to know
G
Developed and written by Living with Alcohol NT
"Taking care of business"
Alcohol B.. Other Drugs Resources
Designed, Illustrated and Produced by Beyond Design Cartoons by Shane Stringer
Printed by Government Printer of the Northern Territory Northern Urritory Government
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