PROGRAMS FOR TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL USERS IN AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACES

This article presents findings from a survey of programmes available f or tobacco and alcohol users working in 455 of Australia's top 600 com panies. Companies were twice as Likely to have programmes for smokers (43%) as for problem drinkers (24%) and these programmes were more app arent in large companies. The majority of programmes for smoking were delivered within a health promotion context which included other life- style issues, such as nutrition, exercise, weight management and stres s management. Although Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) were the mo st commonly available type of work-place programme for excessive drink ers and other drug users, followed by Alcoholics Anonymous and local h ospital clinics, only 6% had an EAP for alcohol. Only 21% of programme s for smokers and 12% for excessive alcohol users were evaluated. Arou nd one-quarter of companies knew the costs of smoking programmes, and 9% reported costs of conducting programmes for excessive alcohol consu mers.