Introduction

Drugs remain at the forefront of an Employers problem in dealing with employees that have an addiction problem. It is considered that the right to privacy relative to drug use does not outweigh the right of the employer, appropriate to whether such usage might impact the performance of the individual or the organization whilst at work. The employer has the legal obligation to provide a safe and environmentally clean workplace for its employees. This really rests at the legal and ethical responsibility of the employer and the regulations of the Company i.e. not to permit the use of drugs or alcohol whilst at work in consideration that this may be a danger to both the individuals and others in the workplace.

This remains a critical problem for business today with some estimated $30 billion being lost in productivity owing to drug use and some $60 billion applicable to alcohol abuse. (Harris, M. 2008). Those workers who had reported drug use missed more than 2 days per month at work and on average had more than 3 employers per year. “Out of 16.6 million drug users, 12.5 million (75%) are employed and out of 51.1 million binge drinkers 41 million (81%) were employed (Office of National Drug Control, 2008).

The ‘Fighting Back Program’ is an excellent example of a community program designed to combat the sale and use of drugs in a community.  This has been designed for adoption in medium sized Cities and eligible for grant awards up to $3 million. Grants for up to $3 million are available for approved development proposals.  The program is Administered by a special advisory committee chaired by the President of New York University. The program is a part of the Robert Wood Johnson foundation a philanthropy devoted exclusively to health care in the United States.  The RWJ Foundation has made available some $26.4 million in eligible grants to help support community initiatives in the elimination of drug and alcohol abuse. 15 communities across the USA have already committed to the program.

Community Action Planning 

The following example of community action planning is proposed:-

Public Awareness Campaign |  This generates community support in order to assist the efforts to reduce drug demand throughout the life of the program.

Focused Intervention |  Aimed at the youth and children; community work with schools, teachers, the police etc. Help build community awareness of the gravity of the problem and the potential consequences.

Early Identification |  These establish programs to target early signs of substance abuse and are conducted in consortium with the Schools, Police, Medical Centres, Clergy and others. The aim is for early intervention and referral to appropriate treatment centres.

Treatment Centres | Covers a broad range of options in accordance with the severity of the problem.  (Spickard, 1991).

Criminal Justice System Implication

The State Police will be used to provide insight into the legal ramifications of drug abuse. This covering such items:

The Impact to Family Life | The use of drugs has a wide impact and covers such items as poverty, violent crime, academic underachievement, soaring health care costs, family breakup, child abuse, homelessness, teen pregnancy, work problems, and AIDS to name but a few.

Legal Ramifications |  Explicit laws on drug abuse exist at the federal, state and local levels in the United States. The local  and state police will identify the serious consequences here.