Drug Addicts Welcomed Back To Work Under Mentor Scheme

A scheme to place recovering drug addicts in the workplace was welcomed by
employers and unions yesterday.

The pilot programme will provide a link between businesses and the
thousands of people attending drug rehabilitation clinics, finding suitable
jobs for workers and suitable workers for jobs.

New employees will be trained for the job in mind and assigned a co worker
as a mentor when they take up their position.

A company awareness programme will also be devised for their bosses and
other colleagues to help them cope with the practical and personal issues
involved.

The Labour Inclusion Programme is being piloted by the Northside
Partnership community development project in Dublin and will operate in
Coolock, Darndale, Donnycarney and Kilbarrack, areas badly affected by drugs.

The country's largest trade union, SIPTU, and the employers' group, IBEC,
yesterday pledged their support for the programme.

SIPTU regional secretary, Jack Nash, said it was vital drug users saw a
clear path to recovery if they opted for treatment and rehabilitation.

"There is growing recognition on the part of employers of the need to
support those sections of the community which may not have benefited from
our economic success," said Brendan Butler of IBEC.

Formally launching the programme, Minister of State Eoin Ryan, described
the involvement of the unions and employers as encouraging. "It is vital
that everyone plays their part in responding to the drugs problem," he said.

The Labour Inclusion Programme will work with around 20 recovering addicts
in its first two years but if successful it could be extended nationwide.

"Our goal is not only to help individuals in our own immediate area but to
develop a model for the programme that could be used elsewhere," said
Marian Vickers, manager of the Northside Partnership.

"I think we are all frightened of anything to do with drugs and drug users
and that creates problems in itself. But we also have to see how do you get
around an employee having to do a daily trip to a methadone clinic for example.

"Employers are pragmatic -- they run a business and are there to make
money. There is a sense of corporate social responsibility and I think
there is goodwill to be tapped."