Would you feel an obligation or leave it alone

Because I value the opinion of so many members- - - I would like you to put some thought into this and give me your valued opinion. What would you do or would you do anything if. You work with OR knew a person, who in your opinion was a good employee, (on time to work, very few if any sick days, got their work done, and good relations with others). This person may have been employed for a year or many more. Some how you find out this person uses drugs. (any type for the sake of argument, but not a perscription) This person does not bring drugs to work, but you are not sure if they use them before they arrive or use them on their time off!
If you are totally against using drugs, take a second before you answer this question to seriously think about it. And if you are not against drugs please do the same. I would really appreciate answers that have been thought out.
The Big question is, would you advise the superiors of this employee about their drug use! What would you do? Would you do anything?

Totally against illegal drugs myself, but hey... if these drugs aren't interfering with this employee's performance, why ruin a good thing? I'd leave it alone if it was me.

Be very careful about this. If his work output is good, he is not causing harm to other people and not violating any policies that you know of I would leave it alone. If you confront your coworker, do so after hours and away from the job.

I would definately leave it alone

if you didn't see it, someone could be repeating gosip to hurt this person, stay out of it

A lot would depend on my relationship with the person and whether the person had a job where drug use would be dangerous.

If I were pretty good friends with the person, I'd talk to them, let them know I know they use drugs for recreation. If they also had a job with machinery where they could hurt themselves or others I'd let them know I felt I should tell their supervisors of their non-prescription drug use. However, if there was random drug testing in place for the job (which there should be if it's a job of that sort), I might not mention telling but I would mention the drug tests (to ascertain if they were cheating in some way and trying to get around them).

If I didn't know them very well and had not seen them using drugs consistently and/or there was random drug testing in place (and I hadn't observed them enough to see their pattern of drug use) I'd probably leave it alone.

leave it aone. unless a person's job performance has changed there in no justifiable reason, legally, to pursue it further merely based on hear say.
if there are any changes in job performance the next step would be left up to their supervisor to investigate,

this is just my thoughts.

I'd leave it alone, if their performance on the job is not suffering or affecting other people.

--splitimage

I would keep a close eye on the employee and if he or she crosses the line in anyway that you feel is going to hurt the company or endanger someones life because of carelessness, then maybe speaking to someone about your concerns would be prudent. Good employees are rare also...

OH, I have been in this position.

Leave it alone UNLESS someone is in danger. If you are friendly with the co-worker, you might try talking with them from a standpoint of your concern for the health of that person. Otherwise, I would mind my own business.

You could get yourself in trouble, both professionally and legally.

I'm not sure it would be any of my business unless the person was working in a position where they might hurt someone, for example, if the person was a nurse.

really it is none of your business. Taking that course of action would lead to you being hated by that person and not trusted by anyone else in the company.

i guess if anything i'd tell them that i was concerned... as a friend, kind of. it may be that they want some help... in which case maybe you could support them in that. or it may be that they don't want help... in which case you could explain your concerns and about how if you thought there performance was impaired because of that then you may feel obligated to say something.

I would leave it alone.

by the way... i think there is a considerable difference depending on what kind of drug you are talking about. if you are talking about a little mj then i'd leave it alone. if you are talking methamphetamine or heroin then the situation is more likely to be problematic in the future...

seems pretty unanimous, but I like what Alexandra added - depends upon the drug. If it is a highly addictive narcotic such as meth, then my answer would be to keep a very close eye on the person. If MJ, then yes, leave it alone unless the person starts using it at work.

The first question is: "What is the nature of the job? Would using drugs affect his job performance and possibly risk the lives of others?" (i.e. healthcare workers, pilots, ship captains, bus drivers, etc.)

If his job is not a job that could risk the lives of others, then the second question is: "Who am I to judge? Is it any of my business what another person does in his own private time?"

I think the best policy in dealing with people in the workplace is to confront the person (in private) you have a problem with or let go of the issue. If working with the person has become an issue, then ask your boss to be reassigned, or you can choose to look for another job.

If you think the person has a serious addiction, then you could refer him to Narcotics Anonymous meetings (they accept anyone with any type of addiction).

You could print out these fliers and give it to him and say, "I know it's none of my business, but I'm worried about you." Print out http://www.na.org/ips/an/an-IP7.htm

You could find meetings and times and even bring him to a meeting. Find meeting here http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/MeetingLoc/

Thank yhou so much to everyone that posted. I got so many replies that agree with me! Yeah!!!! Thank you all so much.
I say this person should leave it alone! Or should have left it alone!!!! Thank you for being objective!

drugs arew hard to kick. that person needs support but does notneed the stress of possibly loosing their job. it wont help them. imo.