LAKE WORTH SEEKING FIREFIGHTER DRUG TESTS

Union Urging Stronger Options For Rehabilitation

Lake Worth The protracted contract negotiations between Lake Worth
Fire-Rescue and the city has made public a sensitive and seldom-
discussed issue gripping fire departments in Palm Beach County and
across the nation: recreational drug use by firefighters.

Lake Worth officials have insisted its fire department adopt a random
alcohol and drug testing policy for firefighters in its next
three-year contract. City officials have proposed a testing program
similar to those already approved by the Lake Worth Police Department
and the city's other public-safety agencies.

Under the city's proposal, employees who test positive for alcohol or
drugs would be required to complete a city-administered
rehabilitation program. Employees would be fired following a second
positive test.

The chief negotiator for the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics
Union of Palm Beach County says there are concerns about the
prevalence of drug use among firefighters and people in other
high-stress, public-safety jobs and has asked Lake Worth to adopt a
testing program that encourages employees to come forward to admit
drug problems.

Joel Brier, a Palm Beach County firefighter for 23 years and
executive vice president of fire union Local 2928, has proposed a
program in which firefighters would not be penalized if they
voluntarily came forward to fight an addiction and enter
rehabilitation. Under that scenario, a firefighter would not be fired
automatically following a second positive test, Brier said. The 62
employees of Lake Worth Fire- Rescue have been working without a
contract since Oct. 1.

"We don't believe that's a fair way to treat an employee who steps up
and wants to get help," Brier said. "[The city] has said that we're
refusing to get drug tested, and that's not true. We just want a
program that encourages people to get help."

Allan Sirmans, a labor attorney and the lead contract negotiator for
the city, said the union's drug-testing proposal isn't strong enough.

"They've talked about a firefighter having an unlimited ability to
turn themselves in for rehab without consequence," Sirmans said.
"That's basically no drug policy at all."

Brier, 50, said firefighters sometimes fall into a cycle of drug
addiction because of the job's demands. While conceding he had no
statistics to back it up, Brier estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of
public-safety employees nationwide have used or continuously use
drugs.But he said that drug use only affects work performance in a
"small percentage" of cases.

"In no way do we condone drug use, but firefighters are like anyone
else, they can have problems," said Matthew Willhite, a Palm Beach
County firefighter and union official. "You don't just turn your back
on someone who has a problem."

Drug use is a subject Brier said is close to his heart because of his
history with addiction as a young firefighter. Brier said he was able
to kick the addiction after years of counseling. He now assists other
firefighters in getting help.

"These are people with dangerous jobs," Brier said. "Because of the
nature of their work, [public-safety employees] have high levels of
personal problems at home. They see violence. They see things like
decapitations. The have knowledge about drugs and how to get away
with it. It's important we treat drug use as an illness because
that's what it is."