Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL) Copyright: 2013 Times Daily Contact: http://www.timesdaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641 Author: Mike Goens DRUGS ARE DESTROYING COMMUNITY A conversation the other day with a human resource director at a well-established local business revealed startling information that should not be ignored. Perhaps we already knew it, but filed the information away under "it does not affect me today so I'm not worried." Well, it's time to worry. This human resource director is the point person for hiring for her company, and she was not in the best of moods on this particular day. She said she interviewed an applicant a day earlier. In her words, he was a perfect fit. He had the skills, a great attitude, appeared to be intelligent and eager to work. The perfect fit abruptly changed when she received word the applicant failed the company's mandatory drug test. He was the fourth applicant within two weeks eliminated by a bad drug test. This company is not alone. Others also are having difficulty at times in their efforts to hire new workers. Like the human resource officer mentioned above, no one seems willing to discuss the problem publicly. Don't think for a second it's not a problem, though. There are many in-the-know people telling me the same thing. One uses the word "epidemic" to describe the matter. As pointed out, many applicants have the necessary skills and intangibles employers seek, but drug tests are preventing the process from moving forward. Companies can't hire people who fail drug tests; the liability risks are enormous. Companies are missing out on otherwise good workers and workers are missing out on good paychecks. This issue is of great importance these days as the Shoals continues to land new companies, while others are expanding. Some worry we won't have enough people to fill those jobs, some of which pay more than $18 an hour. Fortunately - assuming that is an appropriate word in such a pathetic situation - other cities nationwide are experiencing similar problems with their workforces. Frankly, we should be concerned about us and not everyone else right now. Marijuana, meth, cocaine and other illegal drugs have a place in this discussion, but prescription pills are the biggest issue now. The problem is rampant and growing. The issue goes well beyond the under-30 crowd, but there is some obvious neglect taking place. Parents need to be parents instead of trying to be their child's best friend. Someone has to set the tone early just as parents from my generation did without making excuses. We were taught to stay away from drug users, but today drug users are often the popular ones. Sadly, some parents are deep into drugs themselves. Bottom line is people of all ages are not getting the message and don't respect the consequences, whether it's being disqualified for a job or something far worse. It's a debate worth having now, at home or elsewhere. The fact is drugs are destroying lives and our community. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom