By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
An upcoming forum will help Madison County businesses operate more efficiently without the hindrance of drugs and alcohol creeping into the workplace.
Madison County’s Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) Board is taking registration for its business forum scheduled for Thursday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to noon on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. Those planning to attend the event need to be pre-registered by Friday.
Two sessions will be conducted simultaneously in Rooms 211 and 214 of the Perkins Building on Kit Carson Drive.
One session is titled “Substance Abuse and the Workplace.”
Kentucky law entitles businesses who participate in drug-free workplace training to receive a discount on the Worker’s Compensation insurance premiums, according to information provided by Madison County ASAP.
The session, which will be in Room 211 of the Perkins Building, will explain the purpose of an employee assistance program, address a situation where substance abuse is involved, learn the effects of substance abuse in the workplace and assist in workplace re-entry for substance abusers.
This session also will offer free drug-free workplace training.
The second session available focuses on understanding how to assist local students in becoming proactive members of society.
A trained facilitator will teach attendees how to use the Communities That Care annual school survey to provide quality programming in an effort to prevent substance abuse in youth, use the survey information in grant-writing efforts and become effective educators and mentors for local youth
The purpose of hosting the two sessions is, “To promote the awareness of drug and alcohol addiction that occurs within the workplace, and to provide employers with a better understanding of the Employee Assistance Program,” said Jennifer Webb, chair of the Madison County ASAP Board. “Madison County ASAP has a vision that all young people in Madison County grow up supported and nurtured by their families, schools and community and become healthy adults who contribute positively to society. We believe this forum will help further our mission.”
This event is the first of its kind to be hosted in Madison County.
“By offering the forum, we hope to strengthen our partnership with the business community,” Webb said.
Mike McMahan is an interventionist for Bluegrass Regional Mental Health and will be facilitating the “Substance Abuse and the Workplace” forum.
“Substance abuse is a community problem and it requires a community response,” McMahan said. “The reality is that we all play a piece in the picture of creating an environment of support for individuals recovering from drug addiction and those trying to prevent drug addiction. We spend more time at work than we do any other single place, so it is imperative that we take advantage the opportunity to provide support and programming that would support a drug free work-place and healthy lifestyles.”
Call (859) 302-4132 for a registration form, or e-mail Webb at jenniferwebb@kycourts.net.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
