Pubdate: Fri, 19 May 2000
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2000 St. Petersburg Times
Contact:  http://www.sptimes.com/
Forum: http://www.sptimes.com/Interact.html
Section: Opinion, page 19A
Author: Calvina L. Fay

WE SHOULD TRY TO LIMIT DRUGS' HARM

Re: Put it to the test, May 1.

Your editorial on attempts to update Florida's drug-free workplace 
regulations was both perplexing and flawed. As a noted authority on 
drug-free workplace programs, with 20 years' experience in this area, I 
found your venomous indictment of this prevention tool excessive and in 
defiance of reality.

Attempts to limit the harm that alcohol and other drug use inflicts on 
businesses and non-drug using employees are both prudent and justifiable. 
Small wonder that Rep. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach,and other members of the 
House sought to improve and expand a program designed to reduce drug use 
and assist Florida companies and employees. They should be commended, not 
panned.

Contrary to your comment, there has been no credible research conducted 
which would support your assertion that off-the-job drug use is not a 
significant factor in worker safety or productivity. To the contrary, many 
case studies based on the experiences of individual companies have shown 
significant, ongoing reductions in accidents, filing of workers' 
compensation claims, thefts, liability costs, absenteeism, etc. after they 
adopted drug-free workplaces. A scientific study of airline pilots proved 
conclusively that impairment lasted beyond 24 hours after smoking just one 
marijuana joint. Are you suggesting that it is okay for our pilots to smoke 
a joint at night and then fly our planes the next morning?

 >From a workplace perspective, one of the most daunting aspects about 
marijuana is the potential for users to be involved in accidents. A study 
conducted at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services tested 
1,023 emergency room patients with major trauma injuries during a given 
time frame for the presence of marijuana and alcohol. Marijuana was found 
in 34.7 percent of the patients and alcohol was present in 33.5 percent. 
The use of marijuana and alcohol in combination was found in 16.5 percent 
of the patients, compared with marijuana alone (18.3 percent) and alcohol 
alone (16.1 percent). It should be noted that nearly 10 times more people 
are current users of alcohol as are current marijuana users, yet marijuana 
played a higher role than alcohol in these injuries.

The Department of Insurance should research the benefits of offering 
increased discounts for companies that qualify as Florida drug-free 
workplaces. Based on the findings of the studies I mentioned, such a 
cost-benefit analysis would almost surely justify an increased discount for 
and expansion of the protections afforded by Florida's drug-free workplace 
program.

Additionally, your casual reference to employees who use drugs off the job 
simply being less than upright citizens ignores that the fact that they are 
engaging in unhealthy, illegal behavior. After all, a company has a right 
to expect its employees to be law-abiding citizens.

Calvina L. Fay is the executive director, Drug Free American Foundation 
Inc., St. Petersburg
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