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Prevention of substance abuse and addiction

The work done to prevent intoxication and addiction should be integrated into the systematic HSE work of the university.

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The work done to prevent intoxication should be integrated into the systematic HSE work at UiB, and consists of the following elements:

  • Preventing problems of intoxication and addiction.
  • Enabling managers to take action at an early stage, and employees to address at an early stage, any high-risk abuse of intoxicating substances.
  • Helping to ensure that employees who have problems with intoxicating substances are offered follow-up checks.

The work to prevent intoxication is coordinated by the AKAN committee at UiB.

Strategy on intoxicating substances


The university operates a zero-tolerance strategy towards being under the influence of intoxicating substances during working hours. Management approval must be obtained if alcoholic drinks are to be served at events at UiB. Visible drunkenness in association with such events will not be accepted.

The guidelines on alcohol use apply both when travelling on the business of UiB and when attending seminars, courses, etc. The guidelines for handling abuse of intoxicating substances at UiB do not apply once the professional part of the programme has been completed for the day.

Guidelines on handling abuse


The work done to prevent intoxication at the university is built on the "AKAN" (Advisory Centre for Issues Related to Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Gambling in the Workplace) system. The AKAN system is founded on an agreement between the parties in Norwegian working life (the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise and the Norwegian Government). The agreement means that there shall be binding rules on how cases of abuse of intoxicating substances that affect the working situation are handled.

The university has drawn up its own guidelines on how to deal with employees who are under the influence of intoxicating substances during working hours. The guidelines has a detailed description of how this is handled and monitored and of the warning system that is used, as well as a description of the support mechanism that is in place. Employees who have problems with intoxicating substances should be monitored in accordance with the guidelines.