Emergicare of Waynesboro

Helpful Information

When Smoker Quits

Just 20 minutes after you have smoked that last cigarette, your body begins an ongoing series of beneficial changes:

20 Minutes

• Blood pressure drops to normal
• Pulse rate drops to normal
• Temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

8 Hours

• Carbon-monoxide drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 Hours

• Change of heart attack decreases

48 Hours 

• Nerve endings star start re-growing
• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
• Walking becomes easier

2 Weeks to 3 Months

• Circulation improves
• Lung function increases up to 30%

4 to 9 Months

• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease
• Cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, reduce infection

1 Year

• Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

Drugs Costly In Workplace

• Workers who use marijuana pose a safety risk and can cut into business profits.
• According to a leading medical journal, marijuana users had 55 percent more industrial accidents than non-user.

On-the-Job Injuries
Injuries cost businesses money through increased workers compensation claims and insurance costs. One study found that marijuana users had 85 % more injuries at work than non-users. Illicit drug users are five times more likely to file a claim under worker's compensation benefits.

Absenteeism
In order for businesses to be productive, employees must show up to work. Marijuana users have been shown to have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users. Absent workers mean lower productivity.

Disciplinary Problems
In the same study, workers who tested positive for marijuana use had disciplinary problems at work 64% more often than workers who tested negative for marijuana.

Cognitive Skills
Marijuana decreases motor skills, concentration and coordination. Accidents may result from a distortion of time and space relationships. Users may experience shifting sensory imagery, impaired memory and a dulling of attention despite an illusion of heightened insight. Occasionally an altered sense of self-identity and paranoia are reported.

Transportation
Businesses with marijuana-impaired operators take a greater chance of causing injuring injury to themselves, their shipments and the traveling public. Accident records from one study showed that up to 12% of non-fatally injured drives and up to 16% of fatality injured drivers had marijuana in their bloodstreams.

#1 Illegal Drug = Marijuana
Among more than two million employees tested for drugs in the first half of 1999, the most widespread illegal drug detected was marijuana, at 3.3%. This rate is from drug tests of people who knew that they were subject to testing.

Who Works? Who Uses?
Two thirds of drug users are employed. Of theses, half are full-time employees. More drug users are employed full time than part time. Nationwide, almost 10% of employees use drugs in the workplace.

Insurance Costs
Drug using employees have 300% higher medical costs and benefits, which consequently increases insurance rates.

Job Performance
The behavior of marijuana-smoking employees is associated with negative attitudes toward work and job performance. Surveys have found that marijuana users were less likely to commit to the organization, had lower job satisfaction and had higher job turnover rates. The data indicates that marijuana use is strongly associated with poor workplace performance.