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