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Information For Employers
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT HAVING A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE?
Alcohol and other drug abuse is widespread in our society,
and it affects us all in many ways. Although national, State,
and local efforts have begun to show encouraging results,
the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse remains a
serious issue. No workplace is immune. In 1991 the National Institute on
Drug Abuse reported that 68 percent of illicit drug users
were employed. Employers who think alcohol and other drug
abuse will never be a problem in their workplace should consider this: Job
applicants who can't pass a drug test tend to apply to companies that don't test.
Employers who have implemented drug-free workplace programs have important
experiences to share:
- Employers with successful drug-free workplace
programs report decreases in absenteeism, accidents,
downtime, turnover, and theft; increases in productivity;
and overall improved morale.
- Employers with longstanding programs report better health status
among many employees and family members and decreased use of
medical benefits.
- Some organizations with drug-free workplace programs
qualify for incentives, for example, decreased premium costs for certain
kinds of insurance, such as Workers' Compensation.
- Employers find that employees, employee representatives, and unions
often welcome drug-free workplace programs. If you don't have a program your
employees may be wondering why.
- Employers with drug-free workplace programs find that current users of
alcohol and other drugs prefer organizations that do not have such programs.
An effective program can keep you from being the employer of choice for users, abusers, and addicts.
THE DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ACT: THE BASICS
Programs aimed at health promotion and alcohol and other
drug abuse prevention in the workplace are not new. Recent
legislation, however, has reinforced the importance of the
workplace in combating alcohol and other drug abuse. In
1986 the President signed an Executive Order mandating
that all Federal agencies be drug-free. In 1988 Congress
passed the Drug-Free Workplace Act, which requires
Federal grantees and recipients of Federal contracts of
$25,000 or more to comply with the following:
- The employer must have a written policy that explains
what is prohibited and the consequences of violating the
policy.
- Employees must read and consent to the policy as a
condition of employment on the project.
- The employer must have an awareness program to
educate employees about alcohol and other drug abuse
and addiction, the employer's policy, and available help,
counseling, and assistance.
- Employees must disclose any conviction for a
drugrelated offense in the workplace to the employer
within 5 days after such conviction.
- Employers must disclose any conviction for a
drugrelated offense in the workplace to the Federal
agency with which the employer has a grant or contract
within 10 days after receiving notice from the employee
or others.
- Employers must make an ongoing effort to maintain a
workplace free of drugs.
Street Slang Names For Drugs
For a complete list of slang terms for drug and drug activity you can download the following file, drug terms (175K), complements of
ONDCP Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse.You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software to view this file.
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