Joel Myers, a practicing ER physician assistant established “Clarity Drug Test Consultants” in
Central Oregon
, in the spring of 2006. Initially their main directive was geared toward families and preventing teen drug and alcohol use. “We focused on the prevention aspect of alcohol and drug abuse, providing a comprehensive book that helps parents evaluate their teen’s risk factors for substance abuse and developing a strategy to deter them away from such use”. The book also covers important information such as communicating with your teen, drug testing in the home, drugs of abuse, signs of abuse, and both national and local resources. In the summer of 2006, opportunities materialized to address drug issues in the workplace. Surprisingly only a small number of businesses both large and small actually implement a drug-free work policy, so the need to get message out about being a drug-free workplace is a crucial step in keeping communities drug-free. Statistics demonstrate that 75 percent of active drug users are employed. For businesses to enforce a drug policy by implementing pre-employment and random drug testing sends a message to potential employees that substance abuse is not tolerated. If enough businesses employ an active drug-free policy then those communities will no longer be “desirable” for drug users. It is important for business owners to understand that it’s not about “busting” your current employees but recognizing a potential problem and helping them find the resources to get cured. Joel Myers, the owner of Clarity Drug Test Consultants, saw a need for a drug prevention type of business while working in one of the Emergency Departments in
Central Oregon
. “I was shocked at the high rate of methamphetamine related health complaints and other drugs of abuse that I felt there was something more I could do to help my community.” Clarity Drug Test Consultants is just in its infancy. The hope is for parents to become aware that other resources exist and that prevention is paramount for a young impressionable teenager. “If we keep just one teenager from developing a drug or alcohol problem then our company is successful”. Future plans for Clarity Drug Test Consultants is to form a partnership within the Physician Assistant community to implement drug testing as a part of the routine well-child comprehensive physical exam or for sports physicals. The tests are very costly and easy to use as well as this reminds the medical practitioners to create a dialogue with their younger patients regarding the dangerous of abuse.