Minister launches new employers guide on drugs and alcohol

As part of Northern Ireland’s campaign on drugs and alcohol, Health Minister, Angela Smith today launched a new guide for employers on such issues.

In highlighting the need for workplace guidelines, the Minister said the purpose of the guide was to make it easier for employers to develop and implement policies.

Locally, it is estimated that one in every three male drinkers consumes more than the sensible limit while in women this figure is one in six. Of male drinkers, one in ten drink to a dangerous level while this figure is nearly double in young males aged between 18-24.

Deaths linked to alcohol misuse are estimated at 800 every year. Alcohol misuse accounts for an estimated 400,000 lost working days each year whilst the corresponding estimate for drug misuse is 10,000 lost working days.

Welcoming the guidelines, Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson said: “Effective Drug and Alcohol Policies, can not only help employers safeguard the health and well-being of employees but they can also make a real difference to help reduce the associated financial costs to employers. Clearly, improved health for people at work brings benefit to employees and their families, to employers and to society as a whole.”

Meanwhile, the Health Minister also today announced her intention to establish a financial assistance scheme in Northern Ireland for people infected with Hepatitis C as a result of being given blood products by the HPSS.

The Minister’s decision mirrors similar announcements made today by the Secretary of State for Health, Dr John Reid, and the Scottish Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm.

Ms Smith said: “The decision to make financial assistance available to this group of people has been taken purely on compassionate grounds. Details of how the scheme will work and what payments will be available are still being finalised but in principle the Government has decided that people in Northern Ireland suffering from Hepatitis C as a result of receiving blood/blood products from the HPSS will receive ex-gratia payments from the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety.”

(MB)