Providing for the Future

*EmployeeDrug Awareness

2013-2014

*Be Familiar With the Board Policy

*The unique and important role that teachers and other school officials play in the lives of school children and the loco parentis obligations this imposes upon them make it imperative for the School District to ensure that no one in these positions is engaged in the use of illegal drugs or abuse of legally prescribed drugs or alcohol.

*Why Train

*The State of Georgia Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1990, the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, and Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, require that we do this training annually.

*Each year all employees are given a copy of the current Board Drug-Free Workplace Policy. Attached to each is a signature sheet that the employee signs and returns to the HR department. The signature sheet then becomes a part of the employee’s permanent file.

*Key Point to Remember!Any illegal drug or illegal alcohol use, including arrest relating to such illegal drug or alcohol use, while off duty is a violation of this policy. An employee shall notify the Superintendent in writing of any criminal drug or alcohol arrest and/or conviction no later that five (5) calendar days after such arrest or conviction. In the event of conviction or other clear evidence of guilt, the Superintendent shall, within 30 days of notification of such conviction or other evidence, take appropriate personnel action against such employee, up to and including termination.

*WCPS Drug-Free Workplace Policy

*What drugs does the policy address:

*Illegal Drugs

*Legal or prescription drugs being misused

*Alcohol

For Certified employees, violations related to the above substances can lead to the loss of your professional certificate.

*WCPS Drug-Free Workplace Policy

*Know the Penalties and Consequences

*Positive test for drugs or alcohol-immediate suspension or termination

*Possible loss of professional certificate

*Possible legal charges and penalties

*WCPS Drug-Free Workplace Policy

Reasonable SuspicionRandom Testing: This includes all employees of WCPS. Be aware, know the signs of drug and alcohol use in the workplace.

*Confidentially: Remember-Respect-Remain above reproach

*Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace

*How does the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs affect the workplace?

*The number of workplace accidents

*Additional cost in repair and replacement of equipment and supplies

*The absenteeism rate from work

*The quality of work and output

*The morale of co-workers and others in the workforce.

*Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace

*Methods of testing: Because of the widespread number of drugs used today, WCPS may use a variety of methods to determine use and levels of drugs and alcohol within the employee’s system.

*Drug Abuse at Epidemic Rates

*In 2009, 30.2 million people age 12 or older reported driving while under the influence of alcohol.

*In 2009, 10.5 million persons reported driving while under the influence of illicit drugs.

*Illicit Drugs

*In 2009, an estimated 21.8 million Americans were current illicit drug users. (current meaning used in the last month). This represents 8.7% of the population age 12 or older.

*Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription type psychotherapeutics used non-medically.

*Illicit Drugs

*Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2009, there were 16.7 million past month users.

*In 2009, there were 1.6 million current cocaine users.

*Hallucinogens had 1.3 million past month users.

*Illicit Drugs

*In 2009, there were 7 million persons (2.8%) who used prescription type psychotherapeutic drugs non-medically in the past month.

*The number of methamphetamine users in 2009 was 502,000.

*Of the 19.3 million current illicit drug users age 18 or older in 2009, 12.9 million were employed either full or part time.

*First Time Users

*In 2009, there were 617,000 persons age 12 or older who had used cocaine for the first time. This is an average of approximately 1700 new users per day. Of the 617,000 new users, 176,000 were under the age of 18.

*In 2009, there were 180,000 persons age 12 or older who used heroin for the first time. In 2008, that number was 118,000.

*First Time Users

*In 2009, there were 1.3 million persons age 12 or older, who had used hallucinogens for the first time.

*The number of first time users of LSD, age 12 or older was 337,000 in 2009.

*There was a significant increase in the first time users of ecstasy between 2008 (894,000) and 2009 (1.1 million). The number of first time users under 18 was 375,000 in 2009.

*Alcohol

*Slightly more that half of Americans, age 12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol in 2009. This is 51.9 % of the population or an estimated 130.6 million people.

*In 2009, 59.6 million people age 12 or older participated in binge drinking.

*In 2009, heavy drinking was reported by 6.8% of the population age 12 or older. This is about 17.1 million persons.

*Alcohol

*Most, (85.5%) of the 4.6 million first time users of alcohol was under the age of 21.

*People who are not current users of alcohol are less likely to use illicit drugs.

*Process of Reporting

*Whenever you have a suspicion that an employee may be in violation of the Drug-Free Workplace Policy, notify your administrator immediately.