No matter what city, state or country you live in, drug and alcohol abuse deeply affects us all. Especially in today’s tough American economy, we depend on small and large businesses to drive community production and morale. Where employers are victimized by addiction and alcoholism in the workplace, the entire community suffers. Hence, we encourage you to gain an understanding of the top three ways employers and locals can deal with substance abuse and fight back—for the betterment of all.
Learn What Trends Are Specific to Your Community
Whether you are a business owner or not, you should be aware of what new trends in substance abuse are occurring. From there, you can research warning signs and indications of abuse so as to protect yourself and others from the potential risk of having a drug user around the workplace.
For example, some communities are plagued with synthetic drugs while others struggle mostly with prescription painkillers. Find out what substances are rampant in your area, and learn how to detect use.
You can team up with local anti-drug programs and/or law enforcement to learn what the current issues are in your city. Even just raising awareness and spreading the word helps tremendously, and sets a positive example of drug-free living.
Support Drug Prevention and Education Programs
Although drug and alcohol treatment programs are vital to the reformation of our country’s addicts, “rehab” is not included in the top three ways employers and locals can deal with substance abuse. Some experts venture to say that drug education and prevention programs are more important than the establishment of treatment facilities.
In order to get ahead of the addiction “epidemic” in the United States, we have to target American students at younger ages. The alternative of waiting until teens have already began drinking and/or smoking pot leads to thousands of young Americans put at risk of addiction-related tragedy.
It has been said that parents are the strongest and most effective anti-drug, and it’s true. Parents who discuss drugs and alcohol with their children at an appropriate time, in a way which is honest and factual, are much more likely to maintain a drug-free family.
Some parents opt for giving their teens alcohol or avoiding the subject altogether—these teens have no personal or moral foundation to consult with and are much more impressionable by friends and peers. Conversely, teens whose parents have expressed disapproval for drugs and alcohol are much more likely to remain drug free even if only out of worry for parental disappointment.
Understand the Signs of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
In addition to your community research above, learn the signs of addiction and alcoholism. Get these down cold so you don’t have to think twice about them. Learn about your co-workers and friends. Understand their mannerisms and lifestyle so you are able to spot any warning signs that may appear.
Additionally, large corporations and small “mom-and-pop” businesses alike can greatly benefit from random drug testing programs in the workplace. In addition to this implementing a Drug Free Workplace program that has a pledge and regular drug prevention and education lectures can also work to curb this growing problem.
The result will be fewer accidents, greater production and fewer problems in the workplace. Narconon provides many different tools to deal with substance abuse in this area. Through drug rehabilitation, drug prevention and education in the workplace the problem can be curbed to a great degree.
For more information or to locate a Narconon facility contact us today.
Source: http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2012-11-25/employers-locals-deal-with-substance-abuse
