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Administrative Manual on Use of Drugs by Fire Department Members

NCJ Number
111726
Date Published
1988
Length
140 pages
Annotation
This manual is designed to aid in the identification of drug use by fire department members and to suggest positive intervention strategies to minimize drug abuse effects.
Abstract
The prevalence of and trends in drug abuse are discussed, and patterns of drug abuse and types of abused drugs are described. Problems created for fire departments by employee drug use are outlined, as are management policies. Drug testing methods and protocols are delineated, and legal issues associated with employee drug testing are reviewed. Guidelines are provided for designing a drug abuse program, and employee assistance program models are described. Drug abuse treatments also are considered, including individual and group counseling and outpatient and residential programs. The role of the supervisor in combatting employee drug abuse is described, as are behavioral indications of an employee drug problem. Preparations for intervention are considered, and employee supervision during and after treatment is discussed. Appendixes include drug abuse fact sheets, a discussion of urine collection and handling, and the alcohol and drug policy statement of the St. Louis Fire Department. 3 tables, 6 figures, and chapter references.