NCJ Number
57821
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF JOB-BASED ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT STRATEGIES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
JOB-BASED ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS, USED TO PREVENT AND TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG EMPLOYEES, ARE PREMISED ON SPECIFIC COMPANY POLICIES: (1) ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE CONSTITUTE TREATABLE HEALTH PROBLEMS, NOT MORAL WEAKNESSES; (2) IMPAIRED JOB PERFORMANCE AND HUMAN SUFFERING MAY RESULT; (3) MANAGEMENT SHOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY INSIST THE EMPLOYEE FACE THE PROBLEM AND OFFER CONSTRUCTIVE, POSITIVE SUPPORT THROUGH TREATMENT REHABILITATION; (4) IF PERFORMANCE REMAINS IMPAIRED, DISCIPLINARY MEASURES SHOULD BE USED; (5) INTERVENTION STRATEGIES ASSUME FULL SUPPORT OF UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT; (6) CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES MUST BE DEVELOPED; AND (7) EMPLOYEE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM SUCH POLICY MUST BE EFFECTIVELY MANAGED. ORIGINALLY, JOB-BASED PROGRAMS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ALCOHOLISM, BUT HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MOOD-ALTERING DRUGS AND EVEN INTERPERSONAL EMPLOYEE PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH INITIAL PROGRAM EVALUATION IS ENCOURAGING, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING LACK OF POLICY ENFORCEMENT BY MANAGEMENT, LACK OF LABOR UNION INVOLVEMENT, AND LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR RECOMMENDED TREATMENT. SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS INCLUDE: RECOGNITION OF THE LABOR UNION ROLE, ENTRY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHANGE AGENTS IN OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAMMING, A U.S. CIVIL SERVICE ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM, AND THE RISING INTEREST IN PROGRAM EVALUATION AND RESEARCH. IN ADDITION TO THESE INITIATIVES, RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INVOLVING EFFICACY STUDIES, EVALUATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION STUDIES, AND RESEARCH REGARDING UNION ROLES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)