Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
October 12, 2017 02:00 AM

Best Practices: Dealing with marijuana, opioid use

Miles Moore
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    WASHINGTON — Marijuana and opioid use has been an acknowledged problem for many years in just about every industry, including tire retailing and auto service.

    However, sometimes the problem can become apparent in startling ways. Ask Dick Nordness, executive director of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association (NWTDA).

    Marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational use in Oregon and Washington, which the NWTDA represents. However, what is legal in society and what is permissible in the workplace are two different things.

    According to Mr. Nordness, an NWTDA member with multiple locations published advertisements for technicians at one of his stores. Five applicants were interviewed.

    "Both the owner and the store manager agreed these applicants were well-qualified," he said. "But four of them failed the routine test for drug use, and the fifth one said voluntarily that he wouldn't pass."

    The fifth candidate was apparently the only one who knew that marijuana lingers in the body for as long as 30 days, according to Mr. Nordness.

    "Out of five applicants, they got nothing," he said.

    Despite the pervasiveness of drug use in the U.S., the organizations contacted for this article said they do not have best practices in place to address marijuana and opioid use. Some, however, are considering them.

    "Our board has talked about the issue, but we have not come to any conclusions," Mr. Nordness said. "We do consider this a problem, but we're at the beginning stages of taking a look at this."

    Roy Littlefield IV, director of government affairs for the Tire Industry Association, said the same of TIA.

    "We are currently working on a best practice that involves this workplace problem, and we plan to discuss it at our next board meeting," Mr. Littlefield said.

    TIA is gathering information from all its dealers to gain insight into their current business practices, he said.

    "Many TIA members have very strict guidelines and do significant drug testing, especially since many are in the transportation business," Mr. Littlefield said.

    Laws, solutions

    The growing momentum for marijuana legalization has created a crazy quilt of laws within the U.S.

    There are eight states where marijuana use is legal — Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. It also is legal in the District of Columbia, although Congress has blocked commercial recreational sales within the district.

    In other states, marijuana laws vary widely. Most states now allow medical marijuana use, though some allow only non-psychoactive cannabinoid (CBD) oil.

    In no state is possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use a felony, though Alabama allows a misdemeanor count only for the first offense.

    Opioids, which have long been legal by prescription, present an exponentially more serious problem than marijuana. According to a 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 1.9 million people in 2013 either abused or were dependent on opioid painkillers.

    "Across specialties, physicians believe that opioid pain medication can be effective in controlling pain, that addiction is a common consequence of prolonged use, and that long-term opioid therapy often is overprescribed for patients with chronic non-cancer pain," the CDC said.

    In January 2009, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a list of solutions for workplaces to prevent and treat employee substance abuse.

    The solutions recommended by the SAMHSA were as follows:

    • Implement drug-free workplace and other written substance abuse policies.

    • Publicize those policies and reiterate that drug and alcohol use are unacceptable in the workplace.

    • Communicate information about the health risks of alcohol and drug use through company websites and health and wellness initiatives.

    • Educate employees through company wellness programs, employee assistance programs and work/life programs.

    • Incorporate substance abuse information in workplace wellness strategies, such as learning about nutrition, exercise and seat-belt use.

    • Offer health benefits that offer comprehensive coverage for substance use disorders, including aftercare and counseling.

    • Ensure that company wellness programs, employee assistance programs and work/life programs provide education, screening and follow-up services for employees' drug and alcohol problems.

    • Respect employees' privacy regarding their substance abuse problems.
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Yokohama, Trelleborg Wheel deal earns final regulatory approval
    2
    Saudi tire plant backers target construction in 2024
    3
    Nokian starts construction on U.S. tire warehouse D/C
    4
    Conti marking Euro car tires with EV-compatible symbol
    5
    Nokian introduces all-terrain tire for N.A. market
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION