If the last 18 months has done anything, it’s changed the way a lot of people live their lives. Not only has it seen many give up bad habits but it’s also seen a great deal acquire new bad habits too. Recent research, carried out by Alcohol Change UK highlighted the fact that around 1-in-5 people have seen an increase in the amount of alcohol they drink since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s these ‘bad habits’ that many are now struggling to shake off and with alcohol consumption already a very concerning problem within the freight and delivery industry, this only spells bad news.
Addiction – The Size Of The Problem
Of course, when we talk about addiction, we aren’t just referring to alcohol addiction. We’re also referring to drug addiction and any other form of addiction, including behavioural as opposed to substance abuse alone. For the freight/delivery industry specifically however, substance abuse is becoming the biggest problem for the simple fact that it’s illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While drink-driving is far less common in the commercial transport industry, it isn’t obsolete and with these new bad habits having developed over the last year and a half, it may be that the industry as a whole needs to start looking closer at what’s actually going on.
It’s also worth noting that bigger vehicles are quite simply, far more dangerous and capable of doing so much more damage. Not only that, but they also tend to make headlines too, creating in some cases irreparable damage to the companies in question.
What Can Freight Companies Do?
Of course, the vast majority of freight companies are doing their very best to avoid hiring people suffering from substance abuse addiction in the first place. They do this by asking about drinking habits during interview stages and often have zero-tolerance policies to drink and drugs. Despite this however, with the recent lockdown and people seeing their drinking habits taking a slightly different turn, it’s no surprise that many freight companies may now be facing problems regarding addiction. Thankfully, there is a solution.
Workplace Training/Testing By The Best
Regular testing is without a doubt one of the most effective ways to ensure drivers aren’t getting behind the wheel under the influence. That being said, it isn’t always easy for a company to implement this without professional help and that’s where Infinity Addiction Solutions come in. Infinity Addiction Solutions are an addiction treatment provider throughout Essex and London. As well as providing addiction treatment, they also provide CPD training and education for the workplace. They can not only help you improve your workplace policies and employee support and guidance but can also help you implement a workplace testing regime too.
With a huge amount of experience in this specific area, Infinity Addiction Solutions can help train you and your staff to understand this complex issue and how to manage safely each case when it’s identified in your workplace. Training helps to ensure your drivers are safe and fit to drive your machinery/vehicles. For more information, contact Infinity Addiction Solutions today on 0800 334 5541.
