Nearly 21 million Americans live with substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. That's more than the total number of people living with cancer—more than the population of the state of New York.
Three-quarters of those struggling with addiction to alcohol, pain medication and controlled substances are employed. Workers with substance use disorders miss nearly 50 percent more work days than their peers—up to six weeks annually—and absenteeism leads to losses in productivity, says the National Safety Council.
Because the use of unlawful drugs and/or alcohol can adversely affect your health, work and personal life and jeopardize safety, the SDSTA is committed to maintaining a safe workplace free from unlawful drugs and alcohol. That is why the Drug and Alcohol Policy was updated and approved by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority Board of Directors (SDSTA).
“Mandatory training for SDSTA employees will commence the second week of January,” said Laura Baatz, occupational health nurse at Sanford Lab.
A training calendar with training dates and times has been emailed to employees; the information will also be advertised throughout the site on digital screens.
If you are an SDSTA employee and would like to read the policy in its entirety, go to the SDSTA Policies and Procedures on DocuShare's front page or under the Human Resources folder.
There are times in life when you might need a little help coping or figuring out what to do. SDSTA offers a third-party confidential service through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Employees, dependents and all household members can utilize this service. Information can be located on any onsite bulletin board, Human Resources office or on DocuShare.
If you have any questions about upcoming training times, please contact any ESH personnel or Laura Baatz. For questions about the EAP, contact human resources administrator Eileen Brosnahan.