PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

LOCAL
Aims:
● To improve safety on building sites by teaching workers to take responsibility for their
own safety and that of their fellow workers in relation to drug and alcohol use
● To train safety committee members in how to deal effectively with affected workers
● To inform workers with problems about appropriate treatment options and assist
them to access these services when necessary
Main activities:
● Increasing the awareness of workers of the drug and alcohol safety programme
offered by the Building Trades Group of Unions Drug and Alcohol
Committee: Initially, liaison took place with union officials, project managers and drug
and alcohol service providers. Then, site Safety Committees were informed about the
programme. Information/education meetings and awareness sessions were then
carried out on building sites with more than 20 workers. These included the screening
of the video ‘Not at Work Mate’, the distribution of leaflets and posters outlining drug
and alcohol safety issues and the response on building sites, and the printing and
distributing of T-shirts, posters and fliers which promote and publicise the programme.
● Increasing the competence of Safety Committee members to intervene in
order to reduce hazardous behaviour in the workplace due to drug and alcohol
use: Site Safety Committees were informed about the programme and were provided
with detailed information on its policies and procedures, and the services offered by
existing drug and alcohol service providers. After the promotion of the Drug and
Alcohol Safety in the Workplace Training Course to Safety Committee members
through meetings, leaflets and media, the members undertook this training. The programme
differs from most workplace alcohol and drug programmes by being unionbased
and worker-run. It was only implemented on sites where a meeting of workers
agreed to adopt its policy, which is based on harm reduction and worker responsibility for
safety using peer intervention through Safety Committees.
● Increasing workers’ awareness of the availability of drug and alcohol referral,
assessment and detoxification services and rehabilitation facilities, including
referring workers and members of their immediate families to a Treatment
Centre: The promotion and publicising of the services available at the programme’s
treatment centre, and other appropriate service providers, was carried out at site meetings,
training and education courses, and through posters, media, T-shirts, and fliers.
Workers and members of their families with drug and alcohol problems were referred to
the treatment centre for assessment/treatment. Liasing with drug and alcohol services
concerning the provision of other appropriate services for building workers is ongoing.
Monitoring & Evaluation:
“It’s unacceptable to
be intoxicated on the
job because it
threatens the safety
of everyone in the
workplace.”
The programme was evaluated by external evaluators in 1992-93. This consisted of both
a detailed process evaluation and an impact evaluation.
Process evaluation:
This was carried out to refine and enhance the programme as it progressed. During the
process evaluation, the programme's objectives, methods, planning and monitoring were
reviewed and improvements recommended. In particular, the objectives were reformulated
and used as a framework for monitoring and evaluation.
Impact evaluation:
The impact evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the programme against its aims and
objectives, as well as against relevant National Drug Strategy (NDS) policy; and its capacity
to be ongoing, and to attract independent funding. Multiple methods for data collection
were used in both evaluations.
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