CAW Substance Abuse Program

(Adopted by the CAW National Executive Board, June 1988)

Our union has been developing a drug and alcohol recovery program for a number of years. It was first established at General Motors and subsequently at ford and Chrysler. The union continued to expand its program and we now have substance abuse language covering over 60 percent of our membership.

Recovery

Alcoholism and drug abuse continues to be among Canada's leading illnesses. Dependence on alcohol or other drugs is a major contributor to deterioration of family life, impaired job performance, morale and disciplinary problems, increase insurance rates, industrial accidents, increased absenteeism and the rising rate of crime. These illnesses know no boundaries. There is no "generation gap" among abusers, all races are susceptible, and socio-economic status provides no barrier.

We Need Coordinated Services

As in other areas of health, numerous public and private agencies are involved. Community mental health centres, the medical profession, schools, welfare organizations, and social service agencies are engaged. But each agency is concerned with a limited range of services and there is little or no effort to coordinate their programs. Most provincial health ministries have shown few initiatives in leadership and planning for coordinated provincial services to meet critical community needs in dealing effectively with this massive social problem. Funding of treatment programs is sadly in adequate.

We Need Preventive and Recovery Programs

We will intensify our efforts in the development of preventive and recovery programs to:

1. Education on the dangers of addiction.

2. Help identify alcoholics and drug abusers requiring assistance.

3. Arrange for referral to effective community treatment resources.

The Government Has a Role to Play

We will encourage the provincial ministries of health to provide coverage for comprehensive treatment of the alcoholic and drug abuser. Present restrictions on this coverage must be removed and coverage provided for in-patient, out-patient and ambulatory care in a variety of free-standing community facilities.

We will urge federal, provincial and municipal legislative bodies to develop a coordinated program and to provide substantial funds to make effective and comprehensive treatment available to the alcoholic and drug abuser as a matter of enlightened and systematic social policy.

We will call upon the federal and provincial governments to intensify alcoholism and drug abuse education programs to discourage experimentation with these dangerous substances and encourage public understanding and concern for the victims of alcohol and drug abuse as persons with illnesses who require treatment and rehabilitation.

Health Care Planners Have a Role

We will encourage health care planners to expand treatment for multiple drug abuse and to develop pervasive outreach programs to seek out potential alcoholics and drug abusers at all levels of society.

Joint Labour-Management Initiatives are Needed

We will continue to survey the communities where we have membership - seeking comprehensive treatment facilities essential for effective care and rehabilitation. Where facilities are inadequate or unavailable, we will undertake joint labour-management efforts to secure adequate facilities.

Substance Abuse Language Belongs in our Collective Agreements

We will continue to encourage all bargaining units to incorporate substance abuse language in their collective agreements with adequate paid time for substance abuse representatives to properly perform their duties. In order that our members, even in the smallest units, may be adequately served, we will further encourage, particularly in amalgamated local union, the establishment of local union substance abuse committees.

We Oppose Mandatory Drug Testing

Finally, we will continue to oppose any moves to impose mandatory drug testing in the workplace and in pre-employment medicals. These practices create a climate of mistrust which is counter to the objectives of our program. They are a violent attack on the rights and freedoms of workers.

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