Impairing Prescription Medication Use & Fitness for Duty

At the recent Oil Sands Expo, DriverCheck’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jonathan W. Davids, shared important insights during his presentation “Medication Madness: Impairing Prescription Medication Use & Fitness for Duty.” His talk highlighted the often-overlooked risks that prescription medications can pose in safety-sensitive industries.

Here are the key things you need to know about prescription medication and workplace safety:

Prescribed Does Not Mean Safe

A doctor’s prescription does not automatically guarantee safety. Many prescription medications can impair judgment, coordination, or alertness even when taken exactly as directed. Employers and workers must understand that prescribed use still carries risk.

Tolerance Does Not Eliminate Impairment

Workers may become accustomed to a drug’s side effects after using it for months or years. While they may feel fine, their reaction time, judgment, and coordination can still be impaired. Tolerance only reduces how noticeable the side effects feel, not the impairment itself.

Yesterday’s Dose Can Still Be Today’s Risk

Medications and their active breakdown products, known as metabolites, can remain in the body for an extended period after ingestion. A dose taken the night before may still impair a worker’s ability to perform their safety-sensitive tasks safely the next morning. How long a medication stays in the body matters, as it can be the difference between a safe shift and a serious incident.

Fitness for Duty Is More Than Testing

Passing a drug or alcohol test does not always mean a worker is fit for duty. True readiness means ensuring that employees are capable of performing their roles safely. Supervisors should be trained to recognize signs of impairment, whether from fatigue, illicit drugs, or prescription medication, and take action to protect the worker and the workplace.

Develop a Proactive Policy

Relying only on a drug and alcohol policy is not enough. Organizations should implement comprehensive fitness-for-duty policies that require employees to report impairing medications such as opioids, sedatives, stimulants, or any medication they have been advised not to drive while using. This proactive approach builds a stronger safety culture and protects both employees and the business.

Conclusion

Prescription medications are often overlooked as sources of workplace impairment. By recognizing their risks, training supervisors, and implementing proactive fitness-for-duty policies, companies can better safeguard their people and their operations.