News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2002

Drug-Free Workplace Effort Continues in Georgia

The Atlanta Field Division recently provided three training sessions on Drugs in the Workplace as part of its continuing effort to educate supervisors and employees.

On August 8, 2002, DEA Special Agent Chuvalo Truesdell of the Division's Demand Reduction Section conducted Supervisory Drugs in the Workplace training for 45 supervisors at Gaskins Survey in Powder Springs, Georgia. On August 30, 2002, Agent Truesdell conducted training for the remainder of the employees, including the managers. The total number trained at Gaskins was 265 employees.

Agent Truesdell's involvement with state businesses is the result of a partnership between the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, local chambers of commerce throughout the state, and DEA Atlanta to bring drug awareness to the workplace.

This effort, called "Drugs Don't Work," is a comprehensive Drugs in the Workplace program that requires participating businesses to adopt workplace procedures that include (1) Establishment and notification of a workplace drug policy; (2) Training for managers and employees; (3) Limited drug testing; and (4) Employee Assistance Program procedures.

Business entities in the State of Georgia that meet the requirements become eligible to receive a 7.5 percent discount towards payment of their workers compensation insurance premiums.

Agent Truesdell's presentation to Gaskins Survey covered the majority of the most prevalent illegal and legal drugs and statistics on substance abuse in the workplace. Supervisors were also given specific information concerning "Signs and Symptoms" of drug abuse so they could recognize when their employees are using drugs.

Following the initial training at Gaskins, on August 9, 2002, Agent Truesdell conducted Drugs in the Workplace training at Clarion Metals in Covington, Georgia. Agent Truesdell spoke to the entire workforce, managers and employees, and trained 300 people.

Agent Truesdell has discovered another benefit to this training. Because many of the mangers and employees he talks to are also parents, it is a valuable vehicle for introducing them to drug awareness and to reach parents who might not otherwise have been reached.