WDFO

WDFO Program Most substance abusers are employed - 74% of illicit drug users and 79.5% of heavy or binge drinkers work. Nearly 60% of Oregon employers, large and small, say that on-the-job substance abuse is of great concern, yet only 13% of Oregon businesses have comprehensive drugfree workplace programs in place.

At its January 2006 Leadership Summit, the Oregon Business Plan approved the Workdrugfree Oregon initiative as part of its strategic framework to build a more competitive state economy. The effort was precipitated by the increasing difficulty of Oregon businesses in finding workers who can pass a pre-employment drug test (see Oregon Business Plan White Paper and Executive Summary).

Since then, Workdrugfree Oregon has mounted a business-driven campaign to inform the full business community of the value of drug-free workplace programs and assist them in launching or fully implementing these programs. The campaign focuses on helping smaller businesses overcome such obstacles as lack of time, lack of money, lack of expertise, and the fear of losing key employees.

The overall goal of Workdrugfree Oregon is to substantially increase the number of drugfree workplaces statewide.

Specific goals are to:

Educate and mobilize the business community to combat substance abuse through a business-to-business awareness and education campaign;
Raise legislator awareness of the impact of drugs on workplace safety and productivity;
Prioritize substance abuse prevention in Oregon's public workforce system;
Elevate importance of student preparation for the drugfree workplace.

Download 2007-2008 Revised Goals & Action Steps.

Progress in 2007 included:

Goal 1: Educate and mobilize the business community to combat substance abuse.

2007 Progress: Workdrugfree Oregon grew from three pilot sites in 2006 to 14 in 2007, extending the campaign from Astoria to Klamath Falls and east to Baker City. Liberty Northwest Insurance approved a 5% Oregon Alcohol & Drugfree Workplace Premium Credit, providing another incentive to Oregon businesses. Six state agency leaders agreed to collaborate in a statewide drugfree workplace policy led by Oregon DAS.

Agenda for 2008: The Workdrugfree Oregon Employer Task Group chaired by Don Skundrick, LTM Inc., will seek funding for a second statewide employer survey to be conducted in Fall 2008 to measure progress since 2006. A 2006 survey showed that only 13% of employers had in place a comprehensive drugfree workplace program. The Task Group will continue to seek additional pilot sites particularly in rural Oregon.

Goal 2: Raise legislator awareness of the impact of drugs on workplace safety and productivity.

2007 Progress: A Drugfree Workplace Legislative Task Group chaired by Dan Harmon, Hoffman Corp. pursued a legislative agenda which included the elimination of any requirement for employers to accommodate medical marijuana cardholders, and statutory protections for employers implementing drugfree workplace programs.
Agenda for 2008: A January 16, 2008 Policymaker Conference will raise awareness of the impact of substance abuse on workplace safety and business competitiveness and the scope of the problem within Oregon’s workforce. Employer/labor, agency leader and legislator panels will identify future policy and legislative initiatives.

Goal 3: Prioritize substance abuse prevention in Oregon’s public workforce system.

2007 Progress: Oregon Workforce Investment Board approved a Job Seeker Substance Abuse Prevention Policy applicable to all WorkSource Oregon agencies and identified an implementation plan.
Agenda for 2008: Implementation of the OWIB policy begun in late 2007 will include agency staff training in effective intervention and referral of job seekers to substance abuse evaluation and treatment resources.

Since implementing our drug policy, we’ve seen significant reductions in the cost of workers’ comp and in medical claims, which translates to more dollars to the bottom line. We’re also attracting quality applicants who share our business ethic and culture.

— Aniel Yates, LBL Windows and Chair, Workdrugfree Gresham

Goal 4: Elevate the importance of student preparation for the drugfree workplace.

2007 Progress: Drugfree workplace expectations were incorporated into New Oregon Diploma standards to be proposed to the State Board of Education by the Essential Skills Task Force.
Agenda for 2008: Portland, Parkrose, Gresham-Barlow, Centennial, and Reynolds School Districts will offer Workdrugfree employer-delivered classroom presentations as a career-related learning experience.

The Workdrugfree Oregon Initiative is overseen by the Workdrugfree Oregon Employer Task Group, composed of representatives of Initiative pilot sites and others experienced in developing and implementing drugfree workplace programs. Members include:

Don Skundrick, Knife River Corp. Medford, Chair
Debi Bainter, Baker County Chamber
John Boylen, Community First Bank, Prineville
Mark Branlund, ReMax Realty, Portland
Chuck Carey, A-dec, Inc., Newberg
Diana Corder, Pacific Power, Roseburg
Lorna Davis, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Skip Hauke, Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce
Dianna Howell, Barrett Business Services, Albany
Chip Massie, Klamath County Chamber
Ron Peters, Salem Aviation Fueling
Betty Riley, South Central Oregon Economic Development
Sharon Skoltock, RN, Willamette Valley Medical Center, McMinnville
Stacy Stack, Express Personnel, Tualatin
Sandy Stephenson, Bend Chamber
Marilyn Trinkle, Silverton Hospital Business Health Services
Aniel Yates, LBL Windows
Zane White, Northwest Natural, Portland