Drug dependency

A range of factors may influence dependence on both legal and illicit drugs including; psychological, biological, social and environmental factors. 

Dependency on drugs is frequently accompanied by other psychological conditions including depression and anxiety.  The 2004 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey revealed that people who had used any illicit drug other than marijuana, either at least once in their lifetime or in the last 12 months were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with and /or treated for a mental health disorder (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2005).

Drug use can also result in psychosis. Although drug use can sometimes be the sole cause of psychosis, in other cases they can trigger psychotic condition such as schizophrenia in someone who is vulnerable to it. Some people also take drugs as a way of coping with a developing psychotic condition, but these drugs can make the symptoms worse and the disorder difficult to diagnose.

Symptoms and characteristics

Drug dependency is characterised by:

• tolerance for the drug with the person needing increased amounts over time and getting less effect with repeated use
• withdrawal—the person experiences negative withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shaking and cravings, or uses the drug to relieve withdrawal symptoms
• continued drug use despite experiencing its ill effects (i.e. lack of control or compulsive behaviour).

Severe drug dependency can lead to drug related brain injury.  Particular symptoms in the workplace include:

• memory loss, confusion, poor planning and organisation and impaired ability to learn new information
• poor coordination—can lead to accidents especially with regard to operating machinery or driving vehicles.  

In the case of drug-induced psychosis, symptoms usually appear quickly and last from a few hours to days until the effects of the drug wear off. The person may experience visual hallucinations, disorientation and memory problems. Drugs that can cause psychosis are marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines (speed) and magic mushrooms. 

For more information on some of these symptoms and characteristics, follow these links:

• anxiety
• depression
• other acquired brain injury
• psychosis

Workplace adjustments and solutions

There are adjustments and solutions available for the following job requirements:

• acquiring skills
• attention and memory 
• driving motorised vehicles—fine hand use and mobility
• organisation and planning
• managing attendance
• managing emotions at work
• maintaining personal presentation appropriate to the work environment 

The Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace e-learning course is a useful resource to help you understand and work with a person experiencing drug dependency.  You can obtain a free copy of this course by contacting the JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800.

References and resources

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Mental Health Council Inc. and Betty Ann Kitchener and Anthony Francis Jorm at ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne 2006, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace—an e-learning course, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2005, Statistics on drug use in Australia 2004 (Drug Statistics Series No. 15), AIHW, Canberra, viewed 27 February 2007, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/phe/sdua04/sdua04.pdf>.