Proclaiming The Week of October 19th 2009 as "Drug Free Work Week".

The City Council of Philadelphia designates the week of October 19th 2009 as “Drug Free Work Week” in Philadelphia and encourages that all highlight the benefits of drug-free workplace programs and raise awareness of the many resources available to achieve safe, healthy and drug-free work environments.

WHEREAS,

Working drug free work week helps make workplaces safer while preventing accidents from occurring; and

WHEREAS,

Working drug free work week helps improve productivity while reducing the costs related to increased absences, accidents and errors; and

WHEREAS

, Working drug free work week encourages people with drug and alcohol problems to seek help; and

WHEREAS,

Recent research find that 75 percent of the nation's illegal drug users are employed, and an estimated 3 percent or more have admitted to drug use before or during work hours;

and

WHEREAS

, 79 percent of the nation's alcohol users are employed. While more than 7 percent admit to consuming alcohol during the workday, up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries can be traced to alcohol consumption and alcoholism; and

WHEREAS

, Drug-free workplace programs help to protect employers and employees from the potentially devastating consequences of worker alcohol and drug use; and

WHEREAS,

Establishing policies, educating about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, deterring and detecting use, and urging people to seek help are smart safety strategies as well.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA,

That the week of October 19th 2009 be designated as “Drug Free Work Week” in Philadelphia and that all are encouraged to highlight the benefits of drug-free workplace programs and to raise awareness of the many resources available to achieve safe, healthy and drug-free work environments.

End