InfoLink Escalates War on Employee Drug Abuse

Chatsworth, CA, December 29, 2000 - InfoLink Screening Services, Inc., has announced an exclusive agreement with the California Narcotic Officers' Association (CNOA) to offer its Drug-Free Workplace Training Program nationwide. The program addresses problems of alcohol and drug abuse reported by the National Institutes of Health to have cost the economy $246 billion in 1992, the most recent year for which economic data are available. The Drug-Free Workplace training is a hands-on approach which enables businesses to control alcohol and drug abuse among employees, and slash related costs from absenteeism and accidents. The program is believed to be the only one of its kind. InfoLink is a nationwide provider of screening services, including on-site and off-site alcohol and drug testing programs. The CNOA was originally founded to train law enforcement personnel regarding narcotics and is the largest training organization of its kind in the U.S.

Alcohol and drug abuse have increasingly become a business concern as much as a social one. Department of Labor statistics showed in 1997 that 73% of all current drug users 18 or above were employed, over 80% full-time. A survey sponsored by the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reported that drug-abusing employees were:

• 2.2 times more likely to request early dismissal or time off,
• 2.5 times to have an absence of eight days or more,
• 3.0 times more likely to be late for work,
• 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and
• 5.0 times more likely to file a workers' compensation claim.

A U. S. Postal Service study yielded similar results indicating that employees who tested positive on their pre-employment drug test were 77% more likely to be discharged within the first three years of employment and were absent from work 66% more often than those who tested negative.

"While it would seem that any business would want to be drug-free says Barry Nadell, President and CEO of InfoLink, "many do not realize they have a problem, or they fail to realize the extent to which it affects their business. When you consider the costs of non-production, lateness, absenteeism, errors, accidents, liabilities and the discouraging effects on non-abusing employees, the costs of alcohol and drug abuse are really staggering. Many white collar businesses, too, are waking up to the fact that they are just as vulnerable as any other type of business."

The InfoLink/CNOA Drug Free Workplace Program emphasizes a hands-on approach, whereas most programs rely on employers to read and implement materials on their own. Each CNOA team consists of at least one instructor with a law enforcement background and one human resources specialist. The program consists of up to four modules to orient executives, inform employees and train supervisory personnel. Supervisors are trained to handle crisis situations as well as to recognize the many signs of alcohol and drug use. These include identifying specific drugs, recognizing the paraphernalia associated with using the drugs or with disguising drug use and spotting the visible symptoms of employees abusing alcohol or drugs. Employees found to be abusing alcohol or drugs are steered into EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) for treatment.

The Drug Free Workplace Program has ancillary benefits. The Federal Government, for instance, under the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires contractors and grantees of Federal agencies to agree to provide drug-free workplaces as a precondition of receiving a contract or grant from a Federal agency. Many insurance companies now offer incentives to employers to implement drug-free workplace programs as part workers compensation coverage. Also, particular industries such as petroleum drilling have set up their own strict "zero tolerance" programs to minimize the risks associated with drug abuse.

"I am very excited about the potential of this program," states Jim Aumond, Director of Training for the CNOA. "While our past programs have been aimed primarily at law enforcement personnel, we have also trained many nurses, teachers and school administrators. Those new to the organization often find our information eye-popping. We have the program down to a very specific series of checklists that makes it very straightforward to implement. I am confident that we can greatly assist any organization's drug-free effort."

Training services are immediately available and can be scheduled by calling 1-800-990-4473 or by e-mail to drugtesting@infolinkscreening.com.

About InfoLink:

InfoLink provides background screening as well as alcohol and drug testing of job applicants and employees nationwide. The company offers excellent service, fast turnaround of information, legal compliance and competitive pricing.

InfoLink developed its HIRE Program to provide the latest online technology; allowing clients to request background searches, view reports in progress, view completed reports, print reports anytime or store reports on InfoLink's secure server.

For more information on InfoLink call 818/800-990-HIRE (4473) or visit www.infolinkscreening.com

About California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA):

The CNOA is a non-profit association founded 36 years ago and dedicated to the training of law enforcement personnel engaged in the fight against drug abuse. Membership in CNOA is open both to law enforcement personnel and to others who by the nature of their profession are involved in the fight against drug abuse. The organization currently has a membership in excess of 7,000 and delivers over 120,000 hours of training annually. For more information about CNOA call 877-775-6272 or visit the association home page at www.cnoa.org.