Editor’s note: The following is the sixth in a series of articles looking into the drug crisis in Blair County.

When considering drug addiction and its impact not only on the individual addict, but on their families and communities as well, one aspect is often overlooked — the business sector.

Finding workers who are dependable and willing to work has always been a challenge, but when drug addiction is added into the mix, the difficulties mount.

“It is very difficult to find people for the open jobs right now,” said Brock Kull, vice president/managing director of Manpower of Altoona. “Every time someone leaves the workforce due to the effects of drug use, another job goes unfilled, directly and immediately impacting the economy.”

Kull said a potential employee’s past history of drug use can indicate possible future drug abuse because relapses occur at a high rate. Past drug use also makes it hard to place people, he said, particularly in positions where safety is a concern.

Businesses are looking for reliable employees who will be focused on the job and maintain a consistent work schedule, said Philip Devorris, president/CEO of Blair Companies.

“To the extent substance abuse impacts workforce reliability, we are all hurt by these issues,” said Devorris, who is also secretary of Operation Our Town, a partnership led by businesses to fight drugs and violent crime in central Pennsylvania.

Finding workers is a challenge particularly in lower paying job classifications, said Jonathan Wolf, chief executive officer of Pyramid Healthcare, which treats addiction and mental health issues.

“That is where we see more people struggling with behavioral health problems. Employment in lower skilled occupations such as restaurants and the service industries,” Wolf said.

Drug testing limits employee pool

Drug testing requirements, while important, end up creating difficulties in filling empty positions, business leaders said.

“So many (employers) talk about interviewing people and offering them a position and when told they must take a drug test, they never see them again,” said President/CEO Joe Hurd of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. “Drug issues are an obstacle that never goes away.”

Susan Whisler, director of the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board, agrees.

“We know of reports from employers who indicated that jobseekers will complete the interview process but when asked to complete the drug screen, they fail to follow through,” Whisler said after talking with workforce development leaders.

“Testing is conducted across all industries but is more prevalent in manufacturing and health care,” Whisler said.

While not widely advertised, Whistler said she’s seen a handful of companies decide to do away with drug testing in an attempt to attract and retain workers.

“Because it is so difficult for employers to hire, a lot have dropped a lot of their requirements or have tried to be creative in how they gradually bring someone in who has had previous experiences with drugs or alcohol. Some, such as health care providers, are required to do drug testing,” Hurd said. “Some companies have tested for marijuana in the past and are no longer testing for it. Marijuana has become used for medical purposes, that has complicated an already complicated situation.”

Blair Companies and Pyramid Healthcare are among the companies that require drug testing, though Blair Companies has dropped marijuana from the test panel as the drug has become more accepted.

“We continue to do random tests to ensure a safe working environment for our employees,” Devorris said.

Wolf said drug testing is important, but the best way is to do random testing between 30 and 60 days within employment and have periodic random testing.

“If someone seems impaired, you should have the ability to have them tested. You need strict parameters if someone seems impaired,” Wolf said.

Ward Transport and Logistics is required by federal regulations to complete drug testing on its employees.

“We do both pre-employment and random testing,” said CEO Bill T. Ward. “For all our drivers, this is a federal requirement.”

When businesses announce pre-employment drug testing, it scares off potential workers or causes job seekers to “cheat” on the test.

“Some don’t apply when they know an employer will conduct a drug test. But many still try to ‘cheat’ the tests or hope they pass and don’t get caught. This leads to a negative impact on the employer as well as the worker,” Kull said.

​”Some applicants will ask the first thing — if we drug test,” Ward said.

Former addicts given a chance

An addict who has turned their life around still has a tough time getting a job, but Devorris said if Blair Companies believes they can make a contribution, they are given the chance.

“We evaluate each person as an individual with much more focus on their present state and future outlook than on issues they’ve put behind them,” he said. “If we’re convinced they can make a contribution, we give them a chance.”

As an example, Devorris said several employees were residing in local halfway homes when they started with the company.

“Several of these people have mentioned they felt discriminated against by other companies and are appreciative of the opportunity,” he said.

“Many states have laws today related to ‘ban the box,’ meaning criminal convictions and background information is not discussed and/or even collected until after an initial interview process or offer of employment,” Ward said. “An employer is best served when it finds the balance between sound judgment and decision making and an understanding that no one is perfect and we all make mistakes.”

The key, Ward said, is often what “was learned from the mistake made and how we chose to utilize that knowledge going forward to be a better person.”

Help is available

to secure jobs

“Individuals can work with the PA CareerLink and our partners to overcome this barrier,” Whisler said. “Special programs like on-the-job training and transitional work experience are available to encourage employers to give individuals in recovery a chance to demonstrate that they can be a valuable and trusted employee.”

PA CareerLink can also help employers access federal bonding and tax credit programs when hiring individuals in recovery, she added.

Jason Snyder, director of the drug and alcohol division of Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association in Harrisburg, and Wolf said people need a second chance.

“People in recovery come back to the treatment system as an employee. Some employers have addicts come back and share their story, people go back to the system that helped get them care,” Snyder said. “The stigma is a problem across the board, 60 percent of employers say they will not hire someone with a history of substance abuse disorder, it is a tough row to hoe.”

Wolf said he has seen successes in employers taking a chance on former addicts.

“More employers need to take chances,” he said. “Look at how long they have been clean, look at their history, do drug testing periodically.”

Pyramid Healthcare has a number of employees who are former addicts.

“Frequently people who have a record will be highly motivated people, they have their life back and become fantastic employees,” Wolf said.

NEXT WEEK: The Mirror’s series on the drug crisis in Blair County will wrap up with the effect drug overdoses have on the families left behind.