Improving Productivity and Other Employment
Outcomes Through Substance Abuse Prevention, Intervention, Treatment and
Recovery
July 10-11, 2003 Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Washington,
DC
In order to help employers hire and retain a well-prepared, safe,
and drug-free workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor, with assistance from the
U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice and the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, convened the Drug-Free
Workforce Conference. This invitation-only event brought together approximately
150 participants to consider how best to advance the event's theme: "Improving
Productivity and other Employment Outcomes through Substance Abuse Prevention,
Intervention, Treatment and Recovery." Attendees represented a diverse
cross-section of employers, treatment providers, the workforce development
system, Federal staff, researchers in related fields, and workers in recovery
from substance abuse. Conference materials are being made available on this Web
site to help participants put into action the next steps identified during the
conference.
A briefing book (see links below) provided background information
and presented questions for discussion. Presentations provided additional
information on: the nature of substance abuse treatment, addiction and
recovery; the prevalence and impact of substance abuse on the workforce;
lessons learned from other special populations about employment challenges; and
overviews of the various systems. Participants shared successful strategies for
increasing systems coordination among employers, the workforce development
system, substance abuse treatment providers, the disability community, and
community- and faith-based organizations.
Working groups discussed substance abuse prevention, intervention,
treatment and recovery challenges and opportunities that might occur during
interaction between the following sets of systems:
- Employers and substance abuse treatment providers
- Employers and the workforce investment system
- Workforce investment system and substance abuse treatment
providers.
The Drug-Free Workforce
Triangle represents the interaction of the systems discussed.
Each working group reported on:
- Strategies for improving systems coordination,
- Suggestions for how governments can help improve productivity
and other employment outcomes, and
- Concrete next steps participants can take to improve systems
coordination and outcomes.
Summary Report for Working Groups (Will be posted at a later
date.)
Note: The opinions and conclusions expressed in the conference
materials presented herein are solely those of the authors and should not be
construed as representing the opinions or policy of the U. S. Department of
Labor or any other Federal agency. Furthermore, references to Web sites and
other materials produced and/or published by any entity other than the U.S.
Government are included for informational purposes only. Such references are
not intended, and should not be interpreted, as an endorsement of the materials
or any of their contents, the organizations, or respective Web sites.
Drug-Free Workforce Conference Briefing Book Front Cover and
Table of Contents Section 1
Section
2 Section
3 Introduction to
Sections 4-8 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7
Section
8 Section
9 Appendix
A: Glossary
Appendix B:
Bibliography
Conference Agenda
Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentations (in order of
appearance on agenda)
Plenary
Panel 1: Drug-Free Workplace Challenges And Strategies
Panel 2: Current Practices And Systems Overview
Panel 3: Employment Challenges-Lessons Learned From Other
Communities
Plenary
Promising
Practices |