11

Drugs and the work place Drugs and the work place awarenessawareness

Signs and SymptomsSigns and SymptomsRon FlowersRon Flowers

             

22

LegislationLegislation Health and Safety at Work Act 1974Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

((General duty to ensure the safety of your employeesGeneral duty to ensure the safety of your employees)) Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999

( ( If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of drugs to continue working you can be prosecutedof drugs to continue working you can be prosecuted))

Transport and Works Act 1992Transport and Works Act 1992((Makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be Makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit through drink or drugs while working on railways, unfit through drink or drugs while working on railways, tramways or other guided transport systems)tramways or other guided transport systems)

Misuse of drugs Act 1971Misuse of drugs Act 1971( ( Deals with all controlled drugs both legal and illegalDeals with all controlled drugs both legal and illegal ) )

Medicines Act 1968Medicines Act 1968( ( Deals with prescribed drugsDeals with prescribed drugs ) )

             

Drink Drive Limit in the Drink Drive Limit in the UKUK

35 Micrograms of Alcohol in 100 millilitres of 35 Micrograms of Alcohol in 100 millilitres of BreathBreath

80 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Blood80 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Blood

107 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Urine107 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Urine

1 in 5 or 20% of all positive tests are on the 1 in 5 or 20% of all positive tests are on the morning after morning after

33

             

Section 6 Road Traffic Act 1988Section 6 Road Traffic Act 1988

Drinking or being in charge when under Drinking or being in charge when under the influence through drink or drugs.the influence through drink or drugs.

A person who when driving or A person who when driving or attempting to drive a mechanically attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other propelled vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offencedrink or drugs is guilty of an offence

44

             

The Legal PositionThe Legal Position You have a general duty under the Health and Safety at You have a general duty under the Health and Safety at

Work etc Act 1974 to ensure, as far as is reasonably Work etc Act 1974 to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your employees.employees.

If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of excess alcohol to continue working and this places the excess alcohol to continue working and this places the employee or others at risk, you could be prosecuted. employee or others at risk, you could be prosecuted.

Similarly, your employees are also required to take Similarly, your employees are also required to take reasonable care of themselves and others who could be reasonable care of themselves and others who could be affected by what they do.affected by what they do.

In the transport industry, there is additional legislation in In the transport industry, there is additional legislation in place to control the misuse of alcohol and drugs. place to control the misuse of alcohol and drugs.

The Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal The Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit through drink and/or offence for certain workers to be unfit through drink and/or drugs while working on railways, tramways and other drugs while working on railways, tramways and other guided transport systems.guided transport systems.

The operators of the transport system would also be guilty The operators of the transport system would also be guilty of an offence unless they had shown all due diligence in of an offence unless they had shown all due diligence in trying to prevent such an offence being committed.trying to prevent such an offence being committed. 55

             

Classification of Illegal Classification of Illegal DrugsDrugs

66

Class ACannabis oilHeroinCocaineCrack CocaineEcstasyLSDMorphineAmphetamines (Prepared for injecting)MethadoneOpiumMagic mushroomsMethamphetamine____________Poss: 7 yearsPoss/Intent to Supply: LifeSupply: Life

Class B AmphetaminesTranquillisersCodeineBarbituratesCannabisSpice from 2010MephedroneNaphyrone NRG1 & 2

_____________Poss: 5 YearsPoss/Intent to Supply: 14 yearsSupply: 14 years

Class CSteroidsTemazepamDiazapamValiumLibriumKetamine from 2006BZP from 2009GBL from 2009

_____________Poss: 2 YearsPoss/Intent to Supply: 14yearsSupply: 14 years

             

77

Types of drugsTypes of drugs

Categories of drugs

Stimulants(Uppers)

Depressants (Downers)

Hallucinogens(Sideways)

             

88

Drugs that stimulate the nervous Drugs that stimulate the nervous systemsystem

Drug namesDrug names::CocaineCocaineCrack CocaineCrack CocaineAmphetamine SulphateAmphetamine SulphateNicotineNicotineCaffeineCaffeineAnabolic SteroidsAnabolic SteroidsKhat (Qat)Khat (Qat)Crystal MethCrystal MethMCATT,MEOWMCATT,MEOW(Mephedrone)(Mephedrone)GBLGBLSolventsSolventsMDPV (Methelyne dioxy MDPV (Methelyne dioxy

pyrovalerone)pyrovalerone)

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms Increased alertnessIncreased alertness Raises blood Raises blood

pressure & heart pressure & heart raterate

SweatingSweating Rapid breathingRapid breathing InsomniaInsomnia ConfidenceConfidence AggressionAggression TalkativeTalkative Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite

             

Cancer in the NoseCancer in the Nose

99

             

Nose DamageNose Damage

1010

             

Bleeding into the skin Bleeding into the skin issueissue

1111

             

Methamphetamine/Crystal Methamphetamine/Crystal Meth/IceMeth/Ice

1212

             

MCAT (Mephedrone)MCAT (Mephedrone)

1313

             

BZPBZP

1414

             

BZP PowderBZP Powder

1515

             

GBH/GBLGBH/GBL

1616

             

1717

Those that depress the nervous Those that depress the nervous systemsystem

Drug namesDrug names::HeroinHeroinOpiumOpiumMorphineMorphineMethadoneMethadoneAlcoholAlcoholBarbituratesBarbituratesTemazepinesTemazepinesCannabisCannabisSolventsSolventsSpiceSpice

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms Decreased alertnessDecreased alertness Low blood pressure, Low blood pressure,

heart rate & heart rate & breathingbreathing

IntoxicationIntoxication Slurred speechSlurred speech Un-coordinated Un-coordinated

movementsmovements Pinpoint pupilsPinpoint pupils

             

1818

Drugs that depress the nervous system

Alcohol

Solvents ,glue and gas

Heroin type drugs

             

SpiceSpice

1919

             

Injecting tool kitInjecting tool kit

2020

             

A bit bunged upA bit bunged up

2121

             

2222

Those that alter perceptions Those that alter perceptions (mind affecting drugs)(mind affecting drugs)

Drug namesDrug names::

LSDLSD

EcstasyEcstasy

Magic MushroomsMagic Mushrooms

CannabisCannabis

KetamineKetamine

AlcoholAlcohol

Signs and Signs and SymptomsSymptoms

Distorted Distorted perceptionsperceptions

Distorted Distorted hearing, smell & hearing, smell & tastetaste

ParanoiaParanoia AnxietyAnxiety Mood swingsMood swings

             

2323

Drugs that alter perceptionDrugs that alter perception

LSD Cannabis

Magic Mushrooms

Flyagaric / Liberty cap

             

2424

Signs & symptoms of drug useSigns & symptoms of drug use Uncharacteristic mood swingsUncharacteristic mood swings Spending more time away from homeSpending more time away from home Lateness for, college, work, etcLateness for, college, work, etc Excessive borrowing of moneyExcessive borrowing of money Stealing, lying & secretive behaviourStealing, lying & secretive behaviour Poor appetites/ weight lossPoor appetites/ weight loss The wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate timesThe wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times Loss of concentration & losing interestLoss of concentration & losing interest Deterioration in dress or in hygiene standardsDeterioration in dress or in hygiene standards Excessive sleeping, longer restingExcessive sleeping, longer resting Unusual aggressionUnusual aggression Drunken appearanceDrunken appearance Evidence of drug use, ParaphernaliaEvidence of drug use, Paraphernalia

                                                                                            

             

2525

PARAPHERNALIAPARAPHERNALIA              Discoloured knives and spoonsDiscoloured knives and spoons         Empty aerosol cans, plastic bags, Empty aerosol cans, plastic bags,

butane gas containers, lighters, etcbutane gas containers, lighters, etc        Discarded foil, discoloured possiblyDiscarded foil, discoloured possibly        StrawsStraws        Metal tinsMetal tins        Small plastic bottlesSmall plastic bottles        Shredded cigarettesShredded cigarettes        Matches, lighters, candles (especially Matches, lighters, candles (especially

if non-if non- smokers)smokers)         Small squares of paper folded to form Small squares of paper folded to form

envelopes envelopes (Approx 2 inches)(Approx 2 inches) Syringes, needles, unidentified tablets Syringes, needles, unidentified tablets

or or powderspowders

             

2626

PARAPHERNALIAPARAPHERNALIA Jiff bottles (citric acid) used in Jiff bottles (citric acid) used in

injectinginjecting Water phials (pure water)Water phials (pure water) Tourniquets (to pump up veins)Tourniquets (to pump up veins) Needle clippers (old discarded Needle clippers (old discarded

needles)needles) Syringe coversSyringe covers BongsBongs PipesPipes Burnt spoonsBurnt spoons Sterile wipesSterile wipes Patchulli oil (to hide smells) used in Patchulli oil (to hide smells) used in

aromatherapyaromatherapy Jos sticksJos sticks