Highlights of Meth Forum:
What Employers Need to Know

Sponsored by IDC/Jobs 2020, UPM Blandin and United Way of 1000 Lakes
November 3, 2005 – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sawmill Inn – Grand Rapids

Guest Speaker : Richard Moldenhauer, Program Director, State Methadone Authority with Minnesota Chemical Health Division

Local Panelists: Dr. Debra Nyquist, Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital

Jack Muhar , Itasca County Attorney

Pat Medure, Itasca County Sherfiff

Dan Butler, Human Resources, UPM Blandin Paper

Denny Roy, Senior Account Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield

Colleen Mackay, Director, Chemical Dependency Servicess Northland Recovery

The Meth forum was geared primarily for large and small employers to help them identify meth users in the workplace, provide options for treatment, and develop drug and alcohol policies for their workplace. The Meth forum was the seventeenth in a series of Itasca Development Corporation/Jobs 2020 forums.

Methamphetamine use in the Itasca Area is on the increase. To date, 21 meth labs have been busted in Itasca County , seven meth babies have been born to addicts and felony drug cases relating to meth have nearly doubled in the last two years.

Guest Speaker Richard Moldenhauer spoke to the audience about how to identify a methamphetamine user in the workplace. He described the physiological effects of a meth user and how user symptoms manifest in the workplace. Moldenhauer explained how meth use destroys the body and mind of the user and changes behavior. He described the medical complications from the use of meth and outlined drug testing options. Moldenhauer talked about methamphetamine intoxication, withdrawal and medical complications. The website at http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us.stats/181/951.html describes authorized drug and alcohol testing.

Dr. Deb Nyquist talked about the increase in emergency room admissions related to meth. In October Grand Itasca did 48 positive screens for meth. Patients come to the emergency room complaining of health problems that are eventually related to meth use. If the hospital has reasonable suspicion, they screen patients for drug use. Meth use crosses all socioeconomic barriers. Dr. Nyquist described some of the clinical presentations and symptoms and discussed the indications and procedures used for drug testing.

Jack Muhar presented Itasca County ’s criminal statistics related to meth and the criminal consequences to users. Muhar reported a very significant increase in drug offenses over the last few years and showed the high legal costs associated with those offenses. He advised employers to develop a drug and alcohol policy because 75% of meth users are in the workplace.

Pat Medure told the audience about the high increase in the percentage of arrests made that are meth-related. He said the first priority for meth users must be treatment as not enough beds can be built in the jails or prison system to solve the problem. Medure showed the audience some of the things to look for as evidence of drug use. He encouraged employers to call law enforcement or the Itasca Crisis Response Team for help in intervening with a meth user and getting them to treatment.

Dan Butler advised employers to develop a policy for drug testing. He explained that some of the important reasons for testing include safety, productivity, illness, insurance costs, liabilities and quality of employees. Butler advised employers to develop a policy for drug testing for pre-employment, reasonable cause, random safety checks and post injury. Employers need to have a written policy, documented employee knowledge of the policy and a legal opinion of the policy. Butler named Society for Human Resource Management (www.shrm.org), the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce employment law manual, and Northern Drug Screening as sources of information for employers wanting to develop a drug policy.

Denny Roy explained how insurance companies have recognized the need to cover chemical dependency treatments. If treatment can help users before they become abusers it is less cost to the insurance industry. Without treatment users are at a higher risk of long term effects such as heart attacks and strokes that are very costly to insurance companies.

Colleen Mackay told the audience that Itasca County has twelve professional counselors available for drug treatment. Northland Counseling’s detox facility and treatment center are full to capacity. She explained that treatment is therapeutic but there is no cure. Families and employers need to be involved to help the meth user stay sober.

Resources for help include the Itasca County Crisis Response Team and First Call for Help at 326-8565.

Itasca Development Corporation/Jobs 2020 is a non-profit organization that brings together private and public sector leaders from the Itasca Area committed to helping create quality jobs