For Immediate Release: January 24, 2012
Contact: Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director, 201-919-1136 (c), 973-467-2100 (o)
NJ Businesses with Drug Free Work Place Policies More Productive and Successful
Employee Safety Top Concern of New Jersey Business Leaders
MILLBURN— Maintaining a drug free workplace policy enables New Jersey businesses to be more productive and more successful, according to a new study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). The survey was conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMindTM Poll of 300 New Jersey businesses, in December 2011.
Nearly 8 in 10 New Jersey companies (78%) have a written drug-free policy and 60% of businesses reported utilizing PDFNJ resources to create such policies.
Nearly 4 in 5 (79%) of New Jersey companies say their written drug-free policy has be very or somewhat effective in reducing accidents, and 71% of companies reported it is effective in reducing worker compensation claims.
Most companies, more than 9 in 10 (92%), are either “Very Concerned” (85%) or “Somewhat Concerned” (7%) about worker safety.
Illegal drug use and alcohol abuse are a top concern for New Jersey businesses, with seven in 10 (70%) companies surveyed reporting alcohol abuse is a problem and 65% reporting that illegal drug abuse is a somewhat or very serious problem for most New Jersey businesses. New Jersey businesses are also aware of current trends in substance abuse, particularly prescription drug abuse, with nearly 2 in 3 (65%) reporting over the counter and prescription drug abuse as a serious problem for most New Jersey companies; however, the majority, 60% say they are “not very knowledgeable” about the new medical marijuana law known as the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" that went into effect in January 2010.
“This study helps us to understand the level of concern among New Jersey companies about employee substance abuse issues and the steps they need to take to prevent employee substance abuse and its dangerous and negative impact, explained, Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ.”
“At a time when many New Jersey businesses are feeling the effects of the slow economy, this study finds drug-free workplace policies work”, according to Valente, “they make the work place safer, more efficient, and more successful.”
PDFNJ currently provides a program Drugs Don't Work in NJ! to assist small and mid-sized business owners establish drug-free workplace policies. Currently 2,684 businesses, representing 910,216 employees utilize PDFNJ’s workplace services.
The sampling error for 301 employers in New Jersey, given the population of employers in the state is approximately +/- 5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Information on the Drugs Don’t Work in New Jersey program and the full survey can be found on the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey website, www.drugfreenj.org.