JUST SAY YES TO A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

Illegal drugs drain $160 billion a year from the American economy.

Alcohol and illegal drug abuse is widespread in our society, and it affects
us all in many ways. No workplace is immune, even in Rapid City. The
National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 77 percent of illicit drug
abusers are employed.

Employers who think alcohol and other drug abuse will never be a problem in
their workplace should consider this: Job applicants who cannot pass a drug
test tend to apply to companies who do not test.

Drug-Free Workplace Program implementation is becoming more and more common.

They can be crucial in finding quality employees.

According to a government study, one in every four Americans believes drug
and alcohol addiction is the nation's most serious health issue, according
to a new survey.

Alcohol and illegal drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions.
Seventy-five percent of all users admit to using drugs on the job; 60
percent of all drug abusers will sell drugs to co-workers; 40 percent of
employees who use drugs will steal from their employers.

In fact, one in 10 Americans have a problem with alcohol, and one in 12
Americans have a problem with drugs today.

What effect does alcohol and illegal drug abuse have on the workplace?

Individual effects are unique to each user. Illegal drugs can depress the
central nervous system, interfere with control movements, and cause
unpredictable alterations of mood, thought and perceptions of time, space
and self. They can create vivid distortions of all senses, result in
depression and anxiety, paranoia, psychosis and hallucinations, impair
judgment, and cause death.

The after-effects of drug abuse vary with the combination of frequency and
potency of use. Whether they use on the job or not, they bring the effects
of their problems with them since drugs affect their systems for several days.

How do drugs affect your employee's performance? A recent study found that
abusers are involved in 55 percent more accidents, experience 95 percent
more on-the-job injuries, and have a 78 percent high rate of absenteeism.
Other government studies show that abusers are 33 percent to 35 percent
less productive.

Drug testing is one way an employer can protect the workplace from the
negative effects of alcohol and other drug abuse.

A drug-testing program can deter employees from coming to work unfit for
duty and can discourage alcohol and other drug abusers from joining your
organization in the first place.

Employers who have implemented a Drug-Free Workplace Program have important
experiences to share.

Employers with successful Drug-Free Workplace Programs report decreased in
absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft, increase in overall
health of many employees and decreased use of medical benefits.

Some companies with Drug-Free Workplace Programs may qualify for
incentives, such as, decreased premium costs for certain kinds of
insurance, like Worker's Compensation.

So, why say yes to drug testing?

Drug testing is not, as some have suggested, designed to enable an employer
to fire an employee for failing a drug test. That argument is invalid,
since South Dakota is an "at-will" employment state, and an employer can
dismiss an employee at anytime with cause or without cause.

The number one reason for drug testing is to ensure a safe, healthy,
working environment for your workplace, employees, and customers.

Even before there were statistics to prove it, employers know that alcohol
and other drug abuse cost them money.

It may even save an employee's life, family, or job. Creating a drug-free
workplace program or enhancing an existing program can be an important part
of solving one of our country's most persistent and serious problems.

It can also lead to a healthier, more productive work force, which can mean
a better-looking bottom line.

Lynn Miller, Safety Director at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Black Hills
shares her experience with a drug-free workplace: "I am proud to have a
drug-free workplace program in place at Coca-Cola. It is not an invasion of
privacy to test for illegal drug use on the job. It is essential to test
for alcohol and drug use when our employees are operating vehicles in our
community and machinery in our workplace.

Having a drug-free workplace program in place ensures a safe working
environment for all our employees, customers, consumers, and suppliers."

Drug testing is an integral part of a company's safety plan, regardless if
your business is required by law to test or not. Don't let your business be
the choice for alcohol and drug users and abusers.

Be drug-free!