Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | B | Behavioral Healthcare

When will testing and treatment meet?

Article Excerpt
In this troubled economy, many people unfortunately are turning to alcohol and/ or drugs for temporary relief from multiple problems. Yet as use and addiction tighten their grip, many thankfully also are seeking out treatment providers for help. One tool at clinicians' disposal for assisting clients and enhancing treatment's potential for success is drug testing. This special section presents some perspectives on this important topic.

William Judge regrets the quiet passing of the 20-year anniversary of what he considers a seminal moment in the nation's effort to eradicate problem drug use. In September 2006, the 20th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's executive order establishing the goal of creating a drug-free federal workplace largely escaped the addiction community's notice.

Judge, an Illinois attorney and expert on drug testing trends and technologies, believes society has largely missed an opportunity to link testing with employee assistance and counseling, which he cites as the primary intent of President Reagan's executive order. Addiction treatment professionals have never truly embraced testing as an integral part of their work, he says, and employers in turn have seen testing more as a tool to weed out employees with problems rather than a...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!