January 22, 2018 at 5:37 p.m.
Business, industry need to step up
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
Much has been written and seen concerning America’s drug epidemic to date.
Even the president has declared a national health emergency as it relates to opioid abuse.
Locally, the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition has stepped up its efforts to address the drug issue here in Jay County. To fulfill our goals of a drug free community, we need more participation and help from all sectors of the community.
In October, the coalition hosted a “lunch and learn” new member drive meeting at John Jay Center for Learning. The invitation was warmly received by current segments of the community already participating in the council.
Apart from the few loyal members who regularly attend our meetings, we had a dismal response from one of the largest and most affected sphere within the county and particularly Portland: the industrial/commercial element. In the past, various company leaders have ignored invitations with not even a polite rejection response.
Statistics point out that more than 80 percent of Indiana’s businesses have been impacted by prescription drug abuse. According to Quest Diagnostics, a testing firm, only 13 percent of the roughly 6.5 million workplace drug tests screen for prescription painkillers.
There are more stats on workplace injuries and behaviors. Compared to their non-abusing coworkers, opioid abusers are:
•Ten times more likely to miss work/
•Almost four times more likely to be involved in on-the-job accidents (and five times more likely to injure themselves or another in the process).
•Responsible for 40 percent of all industrial fatalities.
•Thirty-three percent less productive.
•Responsible for health care costs that are three times as high.
Locally, employers report that as many as seven out of 10 job applicants are not employable because they fail the company’s drug test. I find it strange that parts of the community suffering directly from the drug problem are not actively engaged with the coalition in addressing this pervasive issue.
In coming months, coalition members will be contacting companies and businesses throughout the county to solicit their active involvement to move the arrow on the meter toward achieving a drug free county. If you would like to get an early start, I invite you to our meeting now.
We gather at East Jay Middle School on the fourth Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. Or, contact me at (260) 251-3259 for more information on making a difference. I look forward to seeing some fresh faces at our next meeting.
Nick Miller
Chairman
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition
Much has been written and seen concerning America’s drug epidemic to date.
Even the president has declared a national health emergency as it relates to opioid abuse.
Locally, the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition has stepped up its efforts to address the drug issue here in Jay County. To fulfill our goals of a drug free community, we need more participation and help from all sectors of the community.
In October, the coalition hosted a “lunch and learn” new member drive meeting at John Jay Center for Learning. The invitation was warmly received by current segments of the community already participating in the council.
Apart from the few loyal members who regularly attend our meetings, we had a dismal response from one of the largest and most affected sphere within the county and particularly Portland: the industrial/commercial element. In the past, various company leaders have ignored invitations with not even a polite rejection response.
Statistics point out that more than 80 percent of Indiana’s businesses have been impacted by prescription drug abuse. According to Quest Diagnostics, a testing firm, only 13 percent of the roughly 6.5 million workplace drug tests screen for prescription painkillers.
There are more stats on workplace injuries and behaviors. Compared to their non-abusing coworkers, opioid abusers are:
•Ten times more likely to miss work/
•Almost four times more likely to be involved in on-the-job accidents (and five times more likely to injure themselves or another in the process).
•Responsible for 40 percent of all industrial fatalities.
•Thirty-three percent less productive.
•Responsible for health care costs that are three times as high.
Locally, employers report that as many as seven out of 10 job applicants are not employable because they fail the company’s drug test. I find it strange that parts of the community suffering directly from the drug problem are not actively engaged with the coalition in addressing this pervasive issue.
In coming months, coalition members will be contacting companies and businesses throughout the county to solicit their active involvement to move the arrow on the meter toward achieving a drug free county. If you would like to get an early start, I invite you to our meeting now.
We gather at East Jay Middle School on the fourth Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. Or, contact me at (260) 251-3259 for more information on making a difference. I look forward to seeing some fresh faces at our next meeting.
Nick Miller
Chairman
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition
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