The credit crunch is driving us to drink - and drugs - in the workplace!

As high street giants continue to fall and share prices plummet, more workers are drowning their sorrows in drugs and alcohol.

Winthrop Hall, a rehabilitation centre in West Kent has seen a 45 per cent increase in enquiries since the downturn in the economy.

And Tony Williams, spokesman for the Kenward Trust - a Kent-based charity that provides support for people suffering from alcohol and drug misuse - says the slump has put extra pressure on what is already a stressful time of year.

Their comments come as a pioneering Swiss project to give addicts government-authorised heroin has been approved overwhelmingly in a national referendum.

Projections based on initial results indicated 69 per cent of voters backed making the heroin programme permanent. It is credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts since it began 14 years ago.

So should we copy the Swiss and give heroin away to addicts on the NHS? Join our poll below, and tune in to kmfm's Louis Hurst show on Tuesday night to hear the full debate. From 11pm anyone can talk about whatever they like!

He said: "This is the time for alcohol abuse to rear its ugly head. There's the pressure of Christmas - the office parties, buying presents and making sure the family has a good time.

"When that is coupled with the current financial crisis it's not surprising that people will be trying to find solace through drink and drugs in the workplace."

Staff at Winthrop Hall, Staplehurst, are now concerned that very few companies in the county are fully supporting their staff once they notice there is an addiction, as they are concerned about the reputation of the business.

Their marketing director, Marco Martinez said: "Despite the fact that alcohol and drugs misuse can severely affect a company’s bottom line profit, many simply ignore the problem. I've lost count of the number of HR directors at blue chip organisations who have said to me “We don't have drink or drug problems here”. The problem is hidden, so people don't recognise it instantly."

Is stress about the future leading you to the bottle? How do you deal with increasing pressures? Do you think there are more drink and drugs in the workplace? Join our debate by clicking on the Make a Comment tab below

A report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development published last year revealed around 40 per cent of companies have no alcohol or drugs policies in place, something which concerns the Clinical Director at Winthrop Hall, Doctor David Bremner.

He believes the current crisis could leave us with a ticking time bomb of addiction: "On average it takes several years before an addiction problem comes to the attention of a doctor. My concern is that people starting to drink heavily now to cope with the current economic climate will only be coming to the attention of services in five to seven years"