Elena Carr, U.S. Department of Labor Reenergizing the Roots of Employee Assistance: Tapping Into...
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Transcript of Elena Carr, U.S. Department of Labor Reenergizing the Roots of Employee Assistance: Tapping Into...
Elena Carr, U.S. Department
of Labor
Reenergizing the Roots of Employee Assistance:
Tapping Into Federal Workplace Substance Abuse Efforts
Tad Davis, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Current Trends in Drug Use
• Research indicates a decline in youth drug use, but less progress among adults
• From 2002-2004:
– Non-medical use of prescription medications among young adults increased
– Adult methamphetamine use remained steady
A Workplace Concern: Current Illicit Drug Use
• Of 16.4 million current illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2004, 12.3 million (75.2 percent) were employed
– 8.0% of full-time workers
– 10.3% of part-time workers
• Of 51.9 million adult binge drinkers in 2004, 41.2 (79.3%) million were employed either full or part time
• Of 16.0 million adult heavy drinkers, 12.7 (79.5%) were employed either full or part time
A Workplace Concern: Alcohol Abuse
A Workplace Concern: Substance Dependence or Abuse
• Of 20.3 million adults classified with substance dependence or abuse in 2004, 15.7 million were employed
– 10.5% of full-time workers
– 11.9% of part-time workers
• The Federal government is reviving efforts to promote DFWPs as a means to address this problem
– The workplace is one of the most effective venues for reaching adults with alcohol and drug problems
– Offers opportunity for education as well as meaningful incentives to stop use
Workplace as the Solution
• Executive Order 12564/Agency-Specific Fitness-for-Duty Regulations
• Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988
• Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991
• Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998
History of Related Efforts
• Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP)
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
Current Initiatives
Renewed ONDCP Workplace Efforts
• Gather data to demonstrate effectiveness of workplace drug testing
• Focus on small businesses
• Improved coordination between Federal agencies (DOL, SAMSHA, SBA)
• Engage DFWP industry organizations (EAPA, DATIA, SAPAA)
• Director visits to drug-free workplaces as part of Major Cities Initiative
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Major Cities Initiative• Engages officials and citizens in about 25
of the nation’s largest cities
• Encourages cities to use proven techniques in expanding efforts to reduce drug use
• Promotes coordination among all segments of the community
• Assists in gathering accurate data on each city’s current state of drug use
ONDCP Major Cities Initiative
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Parents @Work Program• Component of “The Anti-Drug” national
media campaign
• Allows employers to provide working parents with resources to help them talk to their children about drug issuesWeb resources and e-newsletter Articles for employee newslettersBrochures, posters and other
resources for distribution
Department of Labor Approach
• Non-regulatory
• Promotes five-pronged programs that include support for workers with alcohol and drug problems
• Addresses workplace substance abuse; not just illicit drug use
• Respects rights of workers and employers
• Targets small businesses
DOL’s Working Partners Program
Public education and outreach campaign to:
• Raise awareness about the impact of substance abuse on the workplace
• Equip work organizations to implement drug-free workplace programs that protect worker safety and health
• Assist DOL internal agencies in addressing substance abuse as it impacts their missions
What is a Drug-Free Workplace?
• Confusion abounds! DFWP means different things to different people
• Not synonymous with drug testing (despite widespread belief)
• Not synonymous with EAP
• No specific Federal law governs most private sector programs
A work environment where:
• All employees understand that illicit use of drugs and abuse of alcohol while working is not acceptable; and
• Policies and programs discourage alcohol or other drug abuse and facilitate treatment and recovery
What is a Drug-Free Workplace?
• Policy and procedures
• Employee awareness and education
• Supervisor training
• Employee assistance program
• Drug testing
Five-Step Approach to a Drug-Free Workplace
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Substance Abuse Initiative
• Formalizes OSHA’s support for drug-free workplace programs
• Educates that drug-free workplace programs add value to safety and health plans
• Targets high-hazard industries, including construction (industries with the highest rates of substance abuse are construction and mining)
Recent activities
• Multi-Union Drug-Free Workplace Alliance
• NFIB Alliance that includes the goal of drug-free workplaces
• OSHA Substance Abuse Web page
• Presentations at safety and health conferences and articles in publications
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
“Keeping America’s Mines Drug and Alcohol Free” campaign
• Educates the mining community about the dangers of drug and alcohol use in mines
• Encourages collaborative, community-based strategies for addressing the issue
• Launched at Dec. 2004 Tri-State Summit (KY, VA, WV)
• Participates in Tri-State Substance Abuse Task Force
•Re-assert capacity and
expertise to address
workplace substance abuse
•Learn to co-exist with drug
testing
The EAP Challenge
• Embrace EAPs role both within and beyond a drug-free workplace
• Reinforce drug-free workplace message
• Capitalize on drug testing to identify and intervene early
Tips for Maximizing EAP Influence
• Learn about drug-testing policies, procedures and technology
• Partner with drug-testing to provide appropriate training to employees and supervisors
• Leverage available resources to expand available services
Tips for Maximizing EAP Influence
• Utilize free resources available from DOL and other Federal agencies
• Target high-hazard industries
• Reach out to:– Union groups
– Local or state NFIB chapters
– OSHA Consultants
– SAMHSA YIW grantees
• Get involved in ONDCP Major Cities Initiative
EAP Opportunities
www.dol.gov/workingpartners• Drug-Free Workplace Advisor - policy
development tool
• Training presentations, articles and fact sheets
• Directories of state resources and laws
• Newsroom with information about DOL agency drug-free workplace initiatives and PSAs (print and radio)
• E-mail alert service
Working Partners Web Site
www.dol.gov/workingpartners