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Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Problem of Drug Abuse in the Workplace, Consensus Summary

NCJ Number
108144
Editor(s)
J M Walsh, S W Gust
Date Published
1986
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This report presents the consensus reached by an interdisciplinary forum sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in March 1986 to discuss the problem of the abuse of alcohol and other licit and illicit psychoactive drugs, its impact on American business, and ways of addressing the problem in the workplace.
Abstract
Participants represented business, industry, and labor. They discussed 10 types of issues: legal, ethical, medical, technical, safety, security, labor, employee relations, employee assistance, and employee benefits. They agreed that drug abuse is a significant public health problem, that it requires decisive efforts that give due consideration to the rights of the employer, the employee, and the public; and that employer drug abuse policies should reflect the best available current knowledge about substance abuse and its consequences. They also agreed that companies that determine that drug abuse is a problem should consider the best way to achieve a constructive outcome and whether the appropriate response should include drug screening. Other parts of the consensus statement focus on privacy issues, the circumstances and methods of testing employees and job applicants, the handling of positive test results, confidentiality, employer liability, human relations issues, and research and legislative needs.