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GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT-LABOR TEAM EFFORTS - APPROACHES TO DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN INDUSTRY

NCJ Number
66811
Author(s)
E RAMIREZ; S L LEVY
Date Published
Unknown
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON INDUSTRY AS THE LATEST AREA IN WHICH DRUG ABUSE IS CAUSING DETRIMENT TO COMPANY INTERESTS IN ADDITION TO THE HUMAN COSTS INVOLVED.
Abstract
A RECENT STUDY SPONSORED BY THE NEW YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CONDUCTED BY THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF AMERICA FOUND THAT 90% OF 80 COMPANIES SURVEYED REPORTED INCIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE ON THEIR PREMISES, WITH ATTENDANT INCREASED ABSENTEEISM, POOR WORK PERFORMANCE, THEFT, AND HIGHER INSURANCE RATES. OTHER STUDIES FOUND SIGNIFICANT RATES OF REGULAR DRUG USE IN ALL OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, EXCEPT FARMERS. CORPORATE COSTS OF DRUG ABUSE, BETWEEN PROPERTY LOSSES AND PROFITS TO ORGANIZED CRIME, ARE ESTIMATED TO TOTAL $11 BILLION ANNUALLY. YET MOST COMPANIES HAVE LIMITED OR NO EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH DRUG ABUSE. THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR A PRACTICAL, BUSINESS-ORIENTED DRUG PROGRAMS DESIGN. CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA, AND SEMINARS ARE BEING HELD, BUT SPEAKERS ARE EITHER MANAGEMENT EXPERTS WITH LITTLE EXPERTISE IN THE DRUG FIELD, OR DRUG ABUSE EXPERTS, WHO KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE WORLD OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. A TEAM-APPROACH IS NEEDED, UTILIZING BUSINESS AS WELL AS BEHAVIORAL AND MEDICAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF THE ADDICTION SERVICES AGENCY OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THIS STUDY PRESENTS THREE SEPARATE TYPES OF PROGRAMS (OR TRACKS) TO BE FOLLOWED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A JOINT LABOR-MANAGEMENT DRUG ADDICTION POLICY IN INDUSTRY. FORMAL AND INFORMAL CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN COMPANIES MUST BE USED, AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEER GROUPS AT ALL MANAGEMENT AND LABOR LEVELS MUST BE REPRESENTED IN PLANNING. TO BE CONSIDERED IN DISCUSSIONS ARE: THE PREVAILING EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TOWARD DRUG ABUSE; THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF POSSESSION, SALE, AND USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES; THE CORPORATE IMAGE; THE UNION IMAGE; THE EFFECT OF DRUGS ON THE WORK PRODUCT OF THE COMPANY; THE WELFARE OF DRUG ABUSERS; THE DANGER TO OTHER EMPLOYEES; AND THE ATTITUDES TOWARD ALCOHOL. THE FIRST APPROACH IS HARD LINE, INVOLVING TIGHT EMPLOYEE SCREENING AND A DEFINITIVE COMPANY POLICY EMPHASIZING ENFORCED TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM DRUGS DURING WORKING HOURS WITH IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. COMPLIANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE STRICTLY MONITORED WITH SECURITY CHECKS AND RANDOM LABORATORY TESTS OF EMPLOYEES. THE SECOND APPROACH IS LIBERAL-HUMANISTIC. IT EMPHASIZES AMNESTY FOR EMPLOYEES VOLUNTARILY CONFESSING TO DRUG ABUSE, AND SUBMITING TO TREATMENT. LEAVE OF ABSCENCE FOR TREATMENT PURPOSES AND COUNSELING SESSIONS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE COMPANY, ALONG WITH COMPANY-WIDE EDUCATION AND ORIENTATION PROGRAMS. APPROACH THREE SUGGESTS A COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE APPROACHES. ACCORDINGLY, EDUCATION AND COUNSELING WOULD BE COMBINED WITH THE TIGHTLY-SUPERVISED TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND SCREENING POLICIES. THE FINAL SECTION OF THE STUDY DISCUSSES RESOURCES FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ADVICE, RECOMMENDING ORGANIZATIONAL RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS APPENDED. (LGR)

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