MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

I Don’t Do Drugs! Really? A Sobering Lesson for Business

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It’s been years since I stopped Alcohol.

A thought struck me today that we can be so hypocritical when it comes to our ‘drug’ of choice.

How many people do you hear saying; “I don’t do drugs!” but will then take a drag of their cigarette, sip of their wine or pop an anti-depressant?

How many of your peers will say that they like to be in control when you suggest that they use a drug like cannabis and then become demons when they have had a few drinks?

How many of your friends and family rely on alcohol to ‘function’, ‘have sex’ and ‘recover from a bad day’.

During 2015 approximately 62 300 adults died from alcohol-attributable causes of death in South Africa. With a total of approximately 529 400 deaths from all causes, roughly one in ten deaths was attributable to alcohol use.

In South Africa no deaths have been reported due to acute marijuana/cannabis poisoning, and no studies have clearly documented an increased mortality from the use of the drug.

To be fair though, alcohol and marijuana together could be a lethal cocktail as some studies say that people who drive under the influence of marijuana double their risk of being in a car crash.

With cannabis being well on it’s way to being legal in South Africa businesses would be well advised to look at their employment contracts and disciplinary procedures.

Imagine a heavy drinking cigarette smoking Human Resources Director trying to fire a non alcohol drinking, non nicotine smoking, cannabis user for using their drug of choice and losing. Businesses need to be aware of the changing landscape in terms of what a legal or illegal drug is and adapt. What is good for the goose….

Related: http://mypr.co.za/5-ways-to-be-sober-curious-without-being-a-party-pooper/

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.