Detection methods of the drug-addiction and alcoholism treatment programme of the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE).

BACKGROUND: Social problems in enterprises need to be approached by all groups involved in order to achieve a satisfactory result. With regard to Occupational Health and, specifically, drug-addiction, the groups concerned are Occupational Health Services, Trade Unionists and Managers. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the involvement of the social groups (Occupational Health Service, Management and Trade Unions) in relation to the detection of workers suffering from drug-addiction and/or alcoholism. METHODS: During the first eight years of implementation (1990-1997) of the Drug-Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment Programme of the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE), a total of 477 workers consuming alcohol and drugs were detected and treated under the Programme (1.1% prevalence), 465 men (97.5%) and 12 women (2.5%), with an average age of 39.8 years. RESULTS: The subjects were detected by occupational physicians (55.4%), occupational psychologists (2.9%), managers (11.3%), trade unionists (19.5%), via self-referral (9.4%) and by other means (1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the efficiency and the profitability to the company of prevention and treatment interventions and the need for the coordination of managers, trade unions and occupational health services. Language: en