Elena Carr, U.S. Department of Labor

1. Reenergizing the Roots of Employee Assistance: Tapping Into Federal Workplace Substance Abuse Efforts Tad Davis, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Elena Carr, U.S. Department of Labor

2. 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

3. 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

4. A Workplace Concern: Alcohol Abuse • 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

5. 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

6. Workplace as the Solution • 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

7. History of Related Efforts • 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

8. Current Initiatives • 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. ONDCP Major Cities Initiative

12. 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 issues • Web resources and e-newsletter • Articles for employee newsletters • Brochures, posters and other resources for distribution

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. What is a Drug-Free Workplace? 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

17. Five-Step Approach to a Drug-Free Workplace • Policy and procedures • Employee awareness and education • Supervisor training • Employee assistance program • Drug testing

18. 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)

19. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 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

20. 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

21. The EAP Challenge • Re-assert capacity and expertise to address workplace substance abuse • Learn to co-exist with drug testing

22. Tips for Maximizing EAP Influence • 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

23. 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

24. EAP Opportunities • 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

25. Working Partners Web Site 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

26. www.dol.gov/workingpartners