SEMINAR TOLD 85% OF DRUG USERS IN ASIA ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED

Firing Is Not The Proper Solution

International studies show the majority of drug users in Asian countries
are in their prime _ below the age of 45 _ and are gainfully employed in
the work force, a seminar was told yesterday.

Tay Bian How, director of the Columbo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (DAP),
said more businesses were facing more drug problems on their premises than
ever before.

Statistics released by DAP showed 85% of drug abusers in Asia were
employed. They were people between 19- 45 years old.

Mr How said about 50% of drug addicts started using drugs as a result of
peer influence. Young people were vulnerable to pressure from pushers and
peers, he said.

These statistics showed drug abuse could cause a serious problem in
workplaces and every employer should be more concerned. Mr How was
discussing the problem of drug abuse in workplaces at a seminar on
"Mobilising Businesses/ Workplaces to Prevent Drug Abuse in Asia", which
began yesterday and ends on Friday.

He said the seminar was aimed at encouraging business owners to initiate
drug prevention programmes as part of human resource management.

Drug addicts found in workplaces should not be fired immediately, he said.
Instead, they should be sent to join rehabilitation programmes and allowed
to return to work once cured.

"Drug abuse also costs businesses billions of dollars annually in terms of
medical bills and lost productivity. So, businesses need to put greater
emphasis on the fight against drug abuse in the workplace," he said.

Mr How was hopeful all Asian governments would support his drug-free
workplace programme by pushing for a law banning employers from
discriminating against employees found to be addicted to drugs.

Firing them was not a solution and could pose a bigger social problem, Mr
How said.

Erawat Chandaraprasert, permanent secretary for labour and social welfare,
said the statistics on drug abuse in Asian workplaces were alarming, and
the problem needed to be tackled urgently.

Mr Erawat said Thailand had a drug-free workplace programme and was willing
to share experiences in coping with the problem of drug abuse in workplaces.

About 2,494 of some 300,000 workplaces registered with the Labour Ministry
had already joined the programme, he said.

The ministry expected as many as 10,000 workplaces to join the programme
next year, added Mr Erawat.

About 100 anti-drug executives and owners of workplaces in Asia were
attending the seminar, jointly held by the Office of the Narcotics Control
Board, the Asia-Pacific NGO Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse
Prevention, the DAP, the International Labour Organisation, and the NGO
Anti-Narcotics Co-ordinating Centre.