Pubdate: Fri, 18 Aug 2000
Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland)
Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000
Contact:  http://www.examiner.ie/
Author: Caroline O'Doherty

Drug Addicts Welcomed Back To Work Under Mentor Scheme

A scheme to place recovering drug addicts in the workplace was welcomed by 
employers and unions yesterday.

The pilot programme will provide a link between businesses and the 
thousands of people attending drug rehabilitation clinics, finding suitable 
jobs for workers and suitable workers for jobs.

New employees will be trained for the job in mind and assigned a co worker 
as a mentor when they take up their position.

A company awareness programme will also be devised for their bosses and 
other colleagues to help them cope with the practical and personal issues 
involved.

The Labour Inclusion Programme is being piloted by the Northside 
Partnership community development project in Dublin and will operate in 
Coolock, Darndale, Donnycarney and Kilbarrack, areas badly affected by drugs.

The country's largest trade union, SIPTU, and the employers' group, IBEC, 
yesterday pledged their support for the programme.

SIPTU regional secretary, Jack Nash, said it was vital drug users saw a 
clear path to recovery if they opted for treatment and rehabilitation.

"There is growing recognition on the part of employers of the need to 
support those sections of the community which may not have benefited from 
our economic success," said Brendan Butler of IBEC.

Formally launching the programme, Minister of State Eoin Ryan, described 
the involvement of the unions and employers as encouraging. "It is vital 
that everyone plays their part in responding to the drugs problem," he said.

The Labour Inclusion Programme will work with around 20 recovering addicts 
in its first two years but if successful it could be extended nationwide.

"Our goal is not only to help individuals in our own immediate area but to 
develop a model for the programme that could be used elsewhere," said 
Marian Vickers, manager of the Northside Partnership.

"I think we are all frightened of anything to do with drugs and drug users 
and that creates problems in itself. But we also have to see how do you get 
around an employee having to do a daily trip to a methadone clinic for example.

"Employers are pragmatic -- they run a business and are there to make 
money. There is a sense of corporate social responsibility and I think 
there is goodwill to be tapped." 
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