麻豆直播 research has identified the industry and occupational groups in the Australian workforce that have a greater tendency to use legally-prescribed and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes.
The study focused on whether any differences exist between workers in particular industries or occupations.听
Professor Mark Harris from Curtin鈥檚 Department of Economics and Property said the findings distinguished hospitality as a particularly high risk industry, as well as blue-collar jobs. Contrastingly, jobs with higher responsibility and authority were found to be inversely associated with such behaviour.听
鈥淚n terms of occupation, construction workers have been related to misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, and those employed in the arts and recreational industry as other high risk groups,鈥� Professor Harris said.
鈥淭he misuse of pharmaceutical drugs such as pain killers and analgesics, tranquillisers and sleeping pills, steroids and other opiates is an apparent concern in the workplace, given the losses in productivity and associated workplace risks.
鈥淭he impacts are also being felt on individuals, their families and the wider community.鈥�
Professor Harris said the research found that during 2001-2010 around 3.7 per cent of all working-age individuals had consumed some form of pharmaceutical drug for non-medical purposes.
鈥淥ur findings confirmed that particular workplace pressures, cultural norms and/or working conditions might be influential factors behind workers鈥� drug misuse.
鈥淓ven though various measures are in place to monitor and deter drug misuse among workers, such as prohibitive legislation and guidelines to assist employees formulate their own drug testing policies, there is a need to acknowledge the challenges involved in attempting to tackle this type of problem.鈥�
Professor Harris said the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs was an ongoing trend and the rise appears to result from the increased and easy availability of these substances, growing social acceptances, and the perception that they are safe.
鈥淢onitoring the consumption of legally-available drugs is difficult to carry out and exacerbating the situation is the growing availability of drugs online.
鈥淢easures such as educational programs and workplace testing procedures may serve as an incentive against engaging in drug misuse.
鈥淎n important step towards formulating these demand-reduction strategies is the collation of evidence and knowledge about which workers are most at risk.
鈥淏y providing a statistical profile of the prevalence of drug misuse among the Australian workforce, this study offers a useful contribution towards tackling this serious issue,鈥� Professor Harris said.
The project was funded by Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.
