The effects of drug use; meeting planned

Dear Editor,

Drug use, abuse, or addiction among employees and their family members can cause expensive problems for business and industry, ranging from lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft and low employee morale, to an increase in health care, legal liabilities and workers’ compensation costs.

In fact, it is estimated that drug abuse costs employers $81 billion annually.  It is believed that 70 percent of the estimated 14.8 million Americans who use illegal drugs are employed.

Drug abuse can cause problems at work including; after-effects of substance use (withdrawal) affecting job performance, preoccupation with obtaining and using substances while at work, interfering with attention and concentration, illegal activities at work including selling illegal drugs to other employees, psychological or stress-related effects due to drug use by a family member, friend or co-worker that affect another person’s job performance.

Please join us as we offer a forum for parents and students to hear about the issues related to drug abuse in the workplace and on the home life. The Town of Owego, Tioga County Health Department, and Tioga County Economic Development and Planning Office are offering a program to talk about these issues.

“Dinner, Dessert and Direct Talk” will be held on Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Donoli’s Restaurant in Apalachin. This is a free forum where pizza and dessert will be provided and discussion will be had. There will be a keynote speaker as well as a panel discussion with local experts; a question and answer session will follow.

Parents and students are encouraged to attend. Please register at info@townofowego.com or by calling (607) 687-0123, option 7.

Sincerely,

LeeAnn Tinney

Director, Tioga County Economic Development and Planning