Employer Tip Sheet #10

Outside Help and Consultants

Do You Need Them?
How To Find Them . . . What They Cost

Types of Outside Help

Several sources of outside help are available to employers who want to start or expand a drug-free workplace program. Which source is most appropriate will depend on the type of program and the assistance needed.

Free and Low-Cost Services

CSAP's Workplace Helpline 1-800-WORKPLACE. The Helpline provides telephone consultation to assist employers and union representatives with policy development, drug testing, employee assistance, employee education, supervisor training, and program implementation. It offers resource referrals and free publications. Helpline information specialists are trained to provide information tailored to each organization's unique characteristics. Lists of drug testing labs certified by the Department of Health and Human Services are available free of charge, and networking help is available for finding a medical review officer (MRO).

Local Drug-Free Business Initiatives and Workplace Coalitions. Local initiatives and coalitions link employers who are interested in drug-free workplace programs. The coalitions may provide sample policies, technical assistance, low-cost drug testing services, and ongoing training sessions for supervisors. Some have developed special low-cost employee assistance programs designed for smaller employers. They may also have information about, and experience with, the services and costs of laboratories and MROs in your area.

For help with finding local initiatives and coalitions:

• Look in the phone book under your city or town's name and look for entries like "Drug-Free Business Initiative" or "Coalition for Drug-Free Workplaces."
  
  
• Call or write your State or county office for alcohol and drug abuse services and ask if they have a list of groups near your workplace.
  
  
• Call or write your local mayor's office, police department's community relations office, office of economic development, or business relations office and ask if they have a list of coalitions.
  
  
• Call or write your chamber of commerce, or business or trade association and ask if they have services to help employers start a drug-free workplace program.
  
  
• Call CSAP's Workplace Helpline at 1-800-WORKPLACE.

Professional Associations. Professional associations sometimes have a list of programs and individuals who provide assistance and referral services for employers.

Fee-Based Services

Attorneys, Arbitrators, and Mediators. Some law, arbitration, and mediation professionals specialize in helping organizations develop drug-free workplace policies. They also can assist in preventing or resolving policy disputes.

Drug Testing Labs. Many drug testing labs provide assistance with writing a policy and doing education programs, while charging only for their drug testing services. Contact CSAP's Workplace Helpline at 1-800-WORKPLACE for a list of DHHS-certified laboratories.

Health Insurance Carriers. Review your medical or health insurance policies and consult with your carrier or agent. Alcohol and other drug abuse coverage varies depending on the services you want to provide for your employees. Some carriers offer "preferred provider programs," which cover all or part of the costs of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment for employees who receive treatment at a preferred provider facility. Contact your carrier to inquire about options for treatment coverage.

How Much Will It Cost?

Fees for outside assistance vary considerably. So do the costs of participating in a drug-free business initiative or consortium. Below are typical costs for a variety of services: Consultants, attorneys, and mediators: Costs vary from about $30 to more than $100 per hour, depending on skills and qualifications. Drug testing services: Costs range from less than $10 up to $35 for an initial screen and $25 to $75 for a confirmatory test, depending upon how many drugs the employer is testing for. Employee assistance services: See Employer Tip Sheet #8 for a chart of sample costs. Residential treatment: Usually there is a flat fee for 28 to 30 days of residential treatment. Costs can range from $3,000 or less to more than $20,000. Outpatient treatment: Usually there is a flat fee for 30 to 90 days of intensive outpatient treatment. Costs can range from less than $2,000 to $8,000 or more. Group addictions counselors: Long-term less intensive group counseling (usually 12 months) can range from $25 to $60 or more per session. Individual addictions counselors: Counselors generally work on an hourly fee basis. Costs can range from less than $50 to more than $100 per hour.

Negotiating For Services

In some cases, help comes right to an employer's door in the form of organizations that market their services directly. Whether in response to a marketing effort or as part of an aggressive search for services, a few rules for negotiating with outside firms, consultants, or coalitions can be helpful.

Be Clear About What You Want and Can Afford for:

Ask Questions About:

If the Costs Seem Too High:

Since alcohol and other drug abuse is an issue of increasing concern in the workplace, a growing number of individuals and groups are available to help address employers' concerns. There is usually, although not always, no obligation to pay for a service until a formal agreement has been reached and a contract signed.