When a truck driver slammed his semi into a guardrail on the Golden State Freeway last year, authorities were sure of one thing he had been drinking. His blood alcohol level was .16, twice the legal limit, at the time of the accident. While the trucker faces possible jail time and the loss of his driver’s license, his employer lost a $100,000 tractor-trailer and most of its cargo. Such horror stories are nothing new to James G. Aumond, training director for the California Narcotic Officers Association. Aumond, a retired police officer, will lead the group’s newly-created Drug-Free Workplace Training Seminar scheduled for 8:30 a.m., March 6 at the Woodland Hills Warner Center & Towers Hilton, 6360 Canoga Ave. “Most employers have no idea of the impact of drug or alcohol addiction on their business,” said Aumond, who is organizing the seminar and four others around the county, in cooperation with Chatsworth-based InfoLink Screening Services. Barry J. Nadell, president of InfoLink, said the program offers business owners the chance to learn how to establish a drug-free workplace. “We tell people that there’s other ways to deal with individuals who use drugs than just termination,” he said. “There are many issues that need to be examined first.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, companies lose $100 billion a year in lost productivity, accidents and health care costs due to employee substance abuse. The Valencia-based non-profit organization, which trains police officers in narcotics investigations, began the program in September with presentations in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities. “There was a lot of interest from the beginning of the program,” said Aumond, whose seminars have attracted about 100 people in its two events so far. It was just last year that the group hooked up with InfoLink, after conducting a series of seminars at large companies, including Disney. “We wanted to reach some of the smaller businesses, so we joined with InfoLink which has more knowledge of local businesses,” Aumond said. Sarah Barker, personnel director for Montrose Travel in Glendale, says the program was particularly helpful to her company that employs 137 people. Barker explained that the company suffered through a long protracted legal battle with an employee over alleged drug abuses just two years ago. “Most business people don’t know about drugs or even what some of the paraphernalia looks like, so this was very eye-opening,” said Barker, who attended a seminar in September. During the eight-hour program, which costs participants $149, a police officer shows various kinds of drugs and paraphernalia, including crack pipes, marijuana cigarettes and methamphetamine powder. Narcotics experts discuss the signs of drug and alcohol abuse and how to spot them. But more importantly, they discuss ways to implement a company-wide Drug-Free Workplace program. “Some businesses would be more severely impacted than others, which is what we stress,” Aumond said. The trucking industry, for instance, is one where anti-drug efforts are moving forward. Aumond said truck drivers must be thoroughly screened and examined periodically for any sign of substance abuse. “You can’t have a driver under the influence carrying tons of cargo on the road,” he said. Daryl Grecich, former director of communications for the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace in Washington D.C., says companies largely ignore drug abuse among employees until an incident occurs. According to a 1997 federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey, 73 percent of those who use illicit drugs are 18 or older and most are employed full time. Other statistics show: – Among those workers who report the heaviest drug use are construction workers (15.6 percent of all construction workers); sales people (11.4 percent); food preparation workers, waiters, waitresses and bartenders (11.2 percent); laborers and helpers (10.6 percent); and machine operators and inspectors (10.5 percent). – Employees who abuse drugs were 2.5 times more likely to have absences of eight or more days each year and 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident. – Drug-using workers were five times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim. Large companies have consultants to implement on-the-job anti-drug programs but, Aumond says, small businesses typically can’t afford such experts. “So this is where we come in,” Aumond said. Those interested in registering for the seminar may call toll free (877) 775-6272 or visit www.cnoa.org.