OEDI

Implementing a drug and alcohol program has been the single most effective thing we've done for our company, our employees and the surrounding community. We have managed to reduce turnover, decrease injuries, increase morale and, as an end result, support our community by promoting and hiring drug-free employees.

— Andrea Buchholz, Brentwood Corp., Molalla

Local Business Partners

Through a network of 15 chambers of commerce and other local business group partners, OEDI offers drug-free workplace education and training by Oregon's top drug-free workplace experts. These local partners also survey local business needs, document success stories, distribute business toolkits with local resources, and coordinate business-to-business mentors. Each collaborates with county and local substance abuse prevention coalitions.

The Oregon Employer Drug-Free Initiative 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@albanychamber.com.

Baker & Union County Chambers The chambers will form a joint business committee to plan drug-free workplace education and training events. They also will collaborate in the effort with Oregon Employer Councils and County Prevention Coordinators. Contacts: Debi Bainter, Baker County Chamber, debi@visitbaker.com and Judy Hector, Union County Chamber, director@unioncountychamber.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 adding drug policy assistance and training to services provided by Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR). Contact: Skip Hauke, Executive Director, Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, skiphauke@charterinternet.com.

OEDI Douglas County. A group of 14 major employers, led by Roseburg Forest Products, formed OEDI 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. Drug policy-writing workshops and supervisor trainings will be scheduled in 2009 in partnership with Umpqua Partners. Contact: Mimi Bushman mimibushman@aoi.org.

Gresham Area Chamber. The OEDI 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 Contact: Mimi Bushman mimibushman@aoi.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.

Lake County Employer Drug-Free Initiative (LCEDI). South Central Oregon Economic Development District is leading the OEDI initiative in Lake County in partnership with Lake County employers and Lake County Mental Health. An employer breakfast forum will be held on the topic of prescription drug abuse in the workplace, moderated by Suzy Galloway, Collins Products. Company policy advice will be provided by Katherine Tank, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt Attorneys. Contact: Betty Riley, SCOEDD, betty@scoedd.org.

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: Phil Hutchinson, McMinville Chamber, phutchinson@mcminville.org.

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, OEDI 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.

Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. The Newport Chamber will kick off its drug-free workplace initiative with an Economic Impact of Substance Abuse employer breakfast forum Oct. 9, 2008. Supervisor trainings and policy workshops are planned as part of Leadership Lincoln as well as company policy assistance by local attorneys. Partners include the Lincoln County Commission on Children and Families as well as the Newport Partnership Against Alcohol & Drug Abuse (PAADA). Contact: Lorna Davis, Executive Director, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, lorna@newportchamber.org.

Molalla Area Chamber. OEDI 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 Employer Drug-Free Initiative. 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. Contacts: Jana Wolfgang, Wolfgang Associates, stopdrugs@aol.com or Zane White, NW Natural, zane.white@nwnatural.com.

Prineville Crook County Chamber. Both the City of Prineville and Crook County helped fund the Chamber’s Drug Free Workplace Program in June 2006. The Prineville-Crook County Drug Free Workplace Program educates businesses about the dangers of substance abuse in the workplace, in our community, and in society. We provide a Resource Tool Kit that includes: Elements of a Drug Free Workplace, Examples of a Written Policy, Information for Supervisor Trainings, Employee Education & Assistance, List of Local Resources for Drug Testing, Legal Assistance, Referral Services, A Reasonable Suspicion Checklist, A Copy of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, and a FAQ section. A “We are proud to be a Drug Free Workplace!” window decal is given to businesses once they can provide proof of a written substance abuse policy. Contact: Ann Fisher, Prineville-Crook County Chamber, ann@visitprineville.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 Oregon Employer Drug-Free Initiative 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. Contact: Ron Peters, Salem Aviation, rpeters@salemaviation.biz or Denise Russell, MWVCAA, russelld@mwvcaa.org.