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 Oregon's drug-free workplace campaign will help businesses overcome such obstacles as lack of time, money and expertise and the fear of losing key
employees.
— Don Skundrick, LTM Inc., and Chair, Workdrugfree Oregon Employer Task Group
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After designation as an Oregon Business Plan Initiative, Workdrugfree recruited ten Chambers of Commerce and other business or industry groups to serve as Workdrugfree Oregon partner sites. In 2006-07, the partners offered a total of 15 legal policy workshops and 12 supervisor training events. The partners also conducted business education campaigns, surveyed local business needs, documented success stories, distributed business toolkits with local resources, conducted public recognition programs, and coordinated business-to-business mentors. The partners also collaborate with substance abuse prevention coalitions, public sector and community groups as partners in local drugfree workplace initiatives.
The Workdrugfree Oregon partners include:
- Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. A membership survey showed 90% believe their business is drugfree, yet 57% have worked with someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A business education effort was launched in March 2007 with Jerry Gjesvold, Serenity Lane, speaking to 140 chamber members on common problems employers face. Forums feature panels of Human Resource managers and all attendees received a Drugfree Workplace Business Toolkit at no charge. Plans include a series of drug policy workshops and outreach to schools. Contact: Janet Steele, Albany Chamber, jsteele@albanychanber.com
- Bend Chamber. A Bend Chamber leadership drive in spring 2007 netted 52 new companies for the Health Care Council and 15 new companies for its Drugfree Workplace Committee. The Bend Chamber's Drugfree Workplace kickoff breakfast attracted 125 local businesses in March 2006 and more than 100 businesses have participated in policy writing workshops and supervisor trainings. The initiative has gained the support of the city council, county commission, and local legislative leaders. Plans include incorporating drugfree workplace into school-to-work experiences. Contact: Sandy Stephenson, Bend Chamber, sandy@bendchamber.org
- Clatsop County Chambers (Astoria-Warrenton, Cannon Beach & Seaside Chambers). Clatsop County kicked off its initiative in April 2007 with two well-attended workshops in Astoria and Seaside. The Chamber initiative grew from the efforts of the Clatsop County Meth Summit Healthy Workplace Committee. Plans include integrating drugfree workplace into a new city/county/chamber economic development inititative. Contact: Skip Hauke, Executive Director, Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, skiphauke@charterinternet.com
- Workdrugfree Douglas County. A group of 14 major employers, led by Roseburg Forest Products, formed Workdrugfree Douglas County in April 2007. The goal of the initiative is to "increase the number of employers with drugfree workplace programs and in turn assist in addressing the County's substance abuse crisis." A panel of employers described their company drug and alcohol policies and programs at an employer breakfast forum in June and July 2007. A business toolkit with local resources will be distributed at monthly workshops and a medical marijuana forum is planned in spring 2008. Contact: Mimi Bushman mimibushman@aoi.org
- Gresham Area Chamber. The Workdrugfree Gresham launched its drugfree workplace initiative with a panel of speakers at the June 6, 2008 Chamber AM. Chaired by Aniel Yates, LBL Windows, it plans an educational campaign, a training series, and a service package to help businesses take a strong stand against drugs. The group has also connected to the Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership www.ggapp.org.
- Klamath County Chamber. Through the leadership of our District Attorney’s office, Klamath County has engaged in a communitywide drug free program led by its Methamphetamine Task Force. The taskforce issued a report, “A Battle on the Home Front: Confronting Meth in Our Community” and partnered with Jeld-Wen to produce a video, “Messed Up: Straight Talk About Meth,” which has been aired across southern Oregon on our NBC affiliates KOBI-KOTI (www.southernoregonmethproject.org). It also has created a committee of the Chamber to focus on drugfree workplaces. The Drugfree Workplace Committee plans to deliver drugfree workplace “trainings to go” at worksites by multi-disciplinary teams composed of business, education, and law enforcement representatives. Contacts are Chip Massie, Executive Director, Klamath County Chamber, cmassie@klamath.org and Debbie Vought, Executive Director, Citizens for Safe Schools, dvought@co.klamath.or.us.
- McMinnville Area Chamber. Chamber representatives participated in the Yamhill County Methamphetamine Task Force established in 2004 by Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Stern and in the 2005 Yamhill County Meth Summit. To address substance abuse as both a business and community issue, the Chamber secured a $2000 grant from Yamhill County Economic Development to support a business-to-business education campaign, legal policy workshops and supervisor trainings in May and Sept. 2007, drugfree workplace mentors, a business toolkit and a marketing brochure. Contact: Sharon Skoltock, Willamette Valley Medical Center, sharon.skoltock@triadhospitals.com
- The Chamber of Medford-Jackson County. While many businesses in Jackson County are members of the Drugs Don't Work Here program, the Chamber believes it is crucial for the local business community to expand its efforts to protect its employees and customers. A new Chamber Action Team, Workdrugfree Medford, will assist those businesses lacking the experience and training to implement a successful drugfree workplace program. A legal policy workshop, a supervisor training and an employer breakfast with local business speakers was scheduled in Sept. 2007 in collaboration with the Oregon Employer Council. Contact:to Don Skundrick, Knife River, don.skundrick@kniferiver.com.
- Molalla Area Chamber. Workdrugfree Molalla will kick off its new initiative with
an employer panel March 13, followed by a series of policy writing and
implementation seminars for regional businesses. Its mission is to “Encourage regional employers to create and maintain a drug-free workplace through education and training” and the effort already has attracted the support of local employers
including Clackamas Federal Credit Union, Molalla Communications, Family Medical
Group of Molalla, Molalla Medical Clinic, T.C. Enterprises and Silverton Hospital. Contact: Sheri Kelly, Molalla Chamber, macc@molalla.net
- Portland DrugSafe Workplace. The Drug-Safe group began as a committee of Regional Drug Initiative in 2002 and transitioned to become an affiliate of Portland Human Resource
 Management Association in 2006. It has sponsored speaker series on company alcohol and drug policy, drug testing technology, and stress-related alcohol consumption. Since 2004 it has offered annual employer forums on Accommodating Medical Marijuana Users at Work. In 2004, it co-sponsored a survey by PSU of Portland-area employers substance abuse-related concerns, extent of company policy, and perceptions of substance abuse treatment. A 2008 supervisor training will be hosted by NW Natural. Contacts: Jana Wolfgang, Wolfgang Associates, stopdrugs@aol.com or Jason Temchin, Serenity Lane, temchin@serenitylane.org
- Prineville Crook County Chamber.
Both the City of Prineville and Crook County helped fund the Chamber’s Drugfree Prineville startup in June 2006. Drugfree Prineville is a membership program and benefits include a business toolkit, supervisor and employee trainings, policy writing assistance, drug testing group purchasing, mentors and bi-monthly newsletters. Membership requirements included proof of a written substance abuse policy. Nearly a dozen businesses have signed on to date and seven business mentors have been trained. Contacts: John Boylen, Community First Bank, Boylen@mycommunityfirst.com or Brenda Comini, Crook County Commission on Children & Families, brendacomini@aol.com
 Salem-Keizer Chambers. As a partnership, the Salem Area Chamber, the Keizer Chamber and Community Action Drug Prevention Network have led a Drugfree Workplace Program since 2002. As a Workdrugfree Oregon pilot site in 2007-2009, the partners agreed to enhance the program by creating a business-led employer group to lead the two-city initiative. It has emphasized the creation of comprehensive drugfree workplace programs through a training series and recognition program. The 46 program participants are required to update their company policy, provide a copy, and attend one training a year (policy workshop or supervisor training). Outreach includes personal letters by Chamber executives. Contact: Ron Peters, Salem Aviation, ron@salemaviation.biz
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