National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

Facts are important, especially when it comes to making decisions that could mean the difference between life and death, wellness and potentially chronic struggles with addiction and mental health issues, or safety in workplaces and on the roads versus choices that can put communities at risk.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, which runs from March 18 – 24, is a chance to have an important conversation about the science of alcohol and drug use—how it affects the brain and body, and how it may lead to addiction. By communicating the long-term, harmful effects on the brain of using alcohol and drugs, NIDA seeks to educate all of us about the importance of prevention.

Here are just some facts that begin to tell the story of how drug and alcohol use and abuse is impacting everyone’s lives.

Did you know?

• Half of people 12 and older have used illicit drugs at least once, according to drugabusestatistics.org.

• Drug overdose deaths in the US since 2000 are nearing one (1) million.

• According to the most recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2022, 70.3 million people aged 12 or older used illicit drugs in the past year.

NDASA Conference & Trade Show

As founding members of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA), we are proud to say that the organization's annual conference offers exceptional opportunities for anyone even peripherally involved in workplace drug and alcohol testing and safety as well as those with roles in substance abuse prevention and treatment. We've watched the conference grow and become better every year.

In 2023, we were thrilled when the NDASA Conference was held closer to TSS's home state so that we could promote it to our communities and business partners. This year, the conference is a bit further away, but well worth the trip! Visit the NDASA website to learn more and consider joining the TSS team in Hershey this spring!

Workplace Substance Use and the Bottom Line

Drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace is harmful for everyone. Substance use can impair a worker’s ability to make cognitive decisions, emotions, actions, etc. and you never know how someone will behave under the influence. Most importantly, the safety of the employer, the employee and their co-workers and customers may be put at risk. But workplace substance use also affects your business and bottom line.

Research shows that workplace substance use leads to:

• A loss of productivity and job performance
• Workplace accidents and injuries
• Employee absenteeism 
• High turnover
• Low employee morale
• Theft
• Conflict among employees or with supervisors

Did you know that the average worker misses about 15 days of work per year for accidents, illnesses or other reasons, not related to vacation or holidays? Meanwhile, a person with a substance use disorder (SUD) misses about 24.6 days of work per year­ – close to double. Why? Because of the toll substance use takes on their general health and because they tend to be more prone to accidents and injuries at home and in the workplace. Now, guess what? An employee in recovery misses less work than both groups, approximately 10.6 days annually.

That all boils down to dollars. 

Poison Prevention Tips

Take a peak under your kitchen sink or in your laundry room and you will likely see many items that could be dangerous. Household cleaning agents, prescription medications, pesticides and many other common products can pose serious hazards to the health of our families and even pets.

More than two million accidental poisonings occur each year in the United States. Most of these take place in the home (93 percent) and involve young children (45 percent).

March 17-23 is National Poison Prevention Week is intended to raise awareness and make us mindful of the dangers lurking in our homes. Some common products that children, especially, are getting into while at home include:

• Hand sanitizer
• Personal care products (like mouthwash, lotions, and sanitizer)
• Cleaning products
• Over-the-counter and prescription medications
• Home improvement and arts and crafts materials
• Objects like silica gel packets, glow sticks, and coins

Prevention Strategies

The good news is that poisoning incidents can be prevented with a little extra awareness and care. Poison Control experts recommend that homeowners should start by taking inventory of the everyday items they use.

Coaching Corner: National Nutrition Month

By Renee Schofield, NO SPEED LIMIT

As a certified health and wellness coach, I am always gathering resources to help people live their best life.



Let’s Eat! 

National Nutrition Month has been celebrated in March for the past 50 years. Typically, the theme for this month revolves around how and what we eat, how to be creative with our diets, and the teaching and learning about fuel for the human body.

The 2024 theme for Nutrition Month is “Beyond the Table”, a focus on farm-to-table resources. This will look different for us depending on our geographical location. Many of us are anxiously awaiting spring temperatures for garden planting, while others in warm weather destinations are enjoying the bounties of tropical fruits and vegetables. 

Communities are working hard to improve food security for residents by hosting farmers' markets regularly, even in locations where gardening might be challenging. A farmers' market that shares ANY fresh product will improve the diet of those who can partake in the consumption. We can't grow everything in our own gardens, but through a farmers' market, we can take advantage of what our neighbors are growing.