Employee Services > Benefits and HR Managers > Training > Substance Abuse Education and Training Program

1. DESCRIPTION:

The supervisory training (2 hours) is designed to be used with supervisors who are managing employees who are either under the Department of Transportation guidelines for motor vehicles, and public safety occupations (pipeline and other ground/air/sea transportation) or employees who are in Safety Sensitive Positions as defined by the company.

The supervisory training also provides compliance for Drug Free Workplace requirements of supervisors who are managing employees in companies who are under the federal guidelines for government contracts.

The employee seminar (1 hour) prepares employees to deal with the issues of substance abuse both at work and also in their communities and homes. It is designed with the same intensity and informative detail as the supervisory training to bring the employees into the realm or prevention and intervention on their own level.

The seminars are upbeat, practical, and informative with most of the materials gathered from experts around the nation, recent studies, or materials currently published in the areas of substance abuse discussed.

2. OBJECTIVES:

A. General Objectives:

The main objective of the supervisory training sessions is to bring the supervisors to a realization of their own responsibility both in their organization, their industry, and in the nation to provide a high level of awareness and appropriate intervention regarding substance abuse issues they may directly or indirectly encounter. The emphasis is on understanding the dynamics of substance abuse in terms of recognizing performance problems first, knowing how to react when there are signs and symptoms of abuse, and practicing early intervention for any issues which effect employees ability to function effectively in the workplace.

The objectives for the employees who participate in the employee seminars are two fold, a. to provide them with an understanding of the current situation locally and nationally and b. to give them resources to help them, their co-workers, and their families to reach out for assistance should the need arise in this area.

B. Learning Objectives:
(FOR SUPERVISORS)

  1. Develop an awareness of the psycho-social, physiological, and behavioral aspects of substance abuse in society and in the workplace.
  2. Learn and practice the steps of observing, documenting, confronting, and referring troubled employees who might have potential substance abuse issues.
  3. Learn and practice the steps of recognizing, intervening, confronting, and following up with impaired employees who might have potential substance abuse issues.
  4. Learn the policies and procedures of the company regarding supervisors' responsibilities during possible substance abuse situations.

(FOR EMPLOYEES)

  1. Develop an awareness of the psycho-social, physiological, and behavioral aspects of substance abuse in society and in the workplace.
  2. Learn and practice the steps of observing, confronting, and referring troubled family members who might have potential substance abuse issues.
  3. Learn the policies, options for treatment and penalties of the company regarding substance abuse use and/or abuse effecting performance.

3. DESIGNS:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR SUPERVISORS:
The seminar begins with an historical and national portrayal of the situation facing the America in its war on drugs. This introduction is further augmented by the current understanding and misunderstanding of the current problem and recent unsuccessful attempts to eliminate it.

The discussion then moves to the realm of substance abuse in society to the workplace today and the effects of substance abuse on productivity, morale, security and safety. In this section, emphasis is made on the cost and detriment brought about by inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol.

The three levels of use, abuse and addition are defined with comment made as to the reasons why individuals begin abuse and the factors which lead them to continue to the point of addiction and beyond. Here reference is made to the five major categories of substances with particular emphasis on alcohol and alcoholism.

Signs and symptoms follow with the profiled performance issues associated with employees progressing at each level of abuse and addiction. With this section are included the steps of supervisory intervention that would take place with any performance issues exhibited in the workplace. Distinction is made between the intervention which would take place as a result of gradual performance deterioration versus intervention based on observed substance abuse or impairment.

The final section of the program includes a video highlighting the 10 most important issues facing supervisors regarding substance abuse, discussion regarding the company policies and procedures for handing substance abuse problems, and some case scenarios to practice the skills of supervisory intervention on all levels.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR EMPLOYEES:
The employee seminar begins and continues exactly the same as the supervisory version up to the point of the signs and symptoms associated with performance. Instead, signs and symptoms of abuse are highlighted during each of the explanations of the five major categories again with particular emphasis on alcohol and alcoholism.

The final section of this program includes the issues of enabling, family impact, the effects of substance abuse on the structure and functioning of the family unit. Greater emphasis is placed on community resources and national programs of service and information.

4. MATERIALS:

For both seminars, the following materials will be required:

  1. An overhead projector (or LCD) and screen
  2. A newsprint flip chart with markers
  3. Packets of materials (handout materials) for each participant
  4. Pencils (for each participant)

5. CURRICULUM OUTLINES:

1) SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR SUPERVISORS

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Purpose of the Seminar
    2. Overview of the Agenda and Materials
  2. THE EXTENT OF THE SITUATION
    1. Myths and Realities
    2. National Studies
    3. Workplace Impact
  3. UNDERSTANDING OF PROBLEM
    1. Defining Abuse
    2. Defining Addiction
  4. LEVELS AND PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
    1. Levels of Use
    2. The Pattern of Substance Abuse
    3. Factors That Promote Abuse
  5. TYPES OF SUBSTANCES MOST COMMONLY ABUSED
    1. Depressants
    2. Stimulants
    3. Hallucinogens
    4. Narcotics
    5. nhalants
  6. WITHDRAWL SYNDROME AND RETENTION TIMES
    1. Alcohol
    2. Other Drugs
  7. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
    1. Early Phase
    2. Middle Phase
    3. Late Phase
  8. IDENTIFYING PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS
    1. The O.D.I.R. Process
    2. Guide for Supervisors (Dos and Don'ts)
    3. Impairment Observation Checklist
    4. Enabling Tendencies
  9. MANAGEMENT INVOLVEMENT POST-TREATMENT
    1. Employer Objectives and Specifications (Policy)
    2. Identification and Treatment
    3. Return to Work Procedures
    4. Resources for Help
  10. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
    1. Case Scenarios
    2. Help is Available
    3. Drug Paraphernalia Kit

2) SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR EMPLOYEES

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Purpose of the Seminar
    2. Overview of the Agenda and Materials
  2. THE EXTENT OF THE SITUATION
      3. Myths and Realities
    1. National Studies
    2. Workplace Impact
  3. UNDERSTANDING OF PROBLEM
    1. Defining Abuse
    2. Defining Addiction
  4. LEVELS AND PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
    1. Levels of Use
    2. The Pattern of Substance Abuse
    3. Factors That Promote Abuse
  5. TYPES OF SUBSTANCES MOST COMMONLY ABUSED
    1. Depressants
    2. Stimulants
    3. Hallucinogens
    4. Narcotics
    5. Inhalants
  6. WITHDRAWL SYNDROME AND RETENTION TIMES
    1. Alcohol
    2. Other Drugs
  7. ENABLING
    1. Enabling Tendencies
  8. THE FAMILY AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
    1. Family Impact
    2. Effects on the Family
    3. Understanding the Family Roles
  9. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
    1. Help is Available
    2. National Resources