FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

  • WHO WE ARE

    Drug Free Pennsylvania is a non-profit corporation dedicated to curbing substance abuse through communication. We make valuable information available to a wide range of people who have different goals, but share a desire to build a strong Commonwealth, free of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. The mission of the organization is two-fold: to reinforce youths’ anti-drug attitudes through a statewide, multi-media public service campaign and to develop a drug-free business community by providing the framework for employers to establish drug-free workplaces.

  • WHAT WE DO

    Drug Free Pennsylvania is committed to building a strong presence within communities all across Pennsylvania. By partnering with local companies and organizations through workplace programs and cause-related marketing initiatives, we create awareness about substance abuse and more importantly change behaviors. In addition, we reach out to educate parents and provide assistance to troubled workers, their families and their employers. These efforts not only help people overcome substance abuse, but also allow our partners to align themselves with a worthy cause, increase goodwill and positively influence the attitudes and behaviors of the Commonwealth’s youth.

  • HOW WE DO IT

    Our tagline — “Making Tomorrow Work Better” — summarizes our intentions and reinforces our message. We are forward-focused, dwelling not on the problems of the past, but on the solutions for the future. The word “work” is especially significant. It encompasses how well people function in all aspects of their lives, including occupation, home, school and relationships.

  • DRUG FREE PENNSYLVANIA’S KEY INITIATIVES

    Drug Free Pennsylvania offers a drug prevention strategy which is focused both on the workplace and the media through two programs — Media Partnership and Drugs Don’t Work Here.

  • FROM THE BEGINNING

    Our organization was one of the first of its kind in the United States. It was incorporated in fal 1990 by a coalition of business, labor and professional organizations, including; the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, The Pennsylvania Medical Society and The Pennsylvania Bar Association. These groups had been challenged by the Governor and Attorney General to assume a major role in combating substance abuse. Guided by a Board of Directors representing all th eincorporating organizations, DFPA approaches the task of eliminating substance abuse through a multi-disciplinary approach.

Media Partnership

    • What is the Media Partnership?

      The Media Partnership is a drug abuse prevention program that partners the media and Drug Free Pennsylvania in a long-term strategy to prevent substance abuse by youth. The Media Partnership focuses on promoting drug use resistance through public service announcements distributed to media outlets every six months. Drug Free Pennsylvania has relationships with more than 725 media outlets throughout Pennsylvania, representing daily, weekly, monthly and campus publications, outdoor advertising, broadcast and cable TV companies and commercial and campus radio stations. EStablsihing and nurturing these media partnerships help us in a variety of ways. 1. It allows us to send a strong message that illegal substance abuse is socially unacceptable. 2. It helps us reinforce children’s anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco attitudes, which in turn helps them maintain their resolve against using these substances. 3. It lets us reach children, parents, teachers and other significant influencers through coordinated media communication and ongoing educational efforts.

    • What are public service announcements?

      Public service announcements are advertisements that are aired or printed on donated media time or space. The public service announcements used by Drug Free Pennsylvania are created on a pro bono basis by advertising agencies across the United States with the coordination of Partnership for a Drug-Free America. They are available to all forms of media, including television, radio, billboard and print.Since the program’s inception in 1993, the Media Partnership, over 265,000 public service announcements worth more than $8.5 million have been donated by these media partners.

    • Who are the public service announcements directed toward?

      The public service announcements are directed toward three target audiences — non-drug users, occasional drug users, and those people who are significant influences on youth. Each of the public service announcements is simple and hard hitting and conveys anti-drug messages appropriate for the specific target audience.

      • Is the Drug Free Pennsylvania Media Partnership effective?
        The public service announcements are designed to change attitudes toward illegal drug use. The significant increase in anti-drug attitudes in markets where the advertising has been used heavily is clear evidence that the campaign is working. Our 2001 Middle School Youth Study shows that by increasing youth’s negative perceptions of illegal drug use and underage drinking, behavior changes — drug use declines. As Drug Free Pennsylvania looks to the future, we realize that even as we make strides toward reducing substance abuse, we continually face new drugs — such as Ecstasy and Oxycontin — that pose new threats. That is why we must continue in our efforts to educate the community, involve local business, and expand the awareness of our cause. By raising funds through promotions and events, increasing business memberships, and expanding our media exposure, we will continue to change lives.

Drugs Don’t Work Here

    • What is the Drugs Don’t Work Here program?
      The Drugs Don’t Work Here (DDWH) program encourages employers and labor unions to establish comprehensive and compassionate workplace substance abuse programs. The program offers a multi-faceted approach to preventing alcohol and other drug problems in the workplace. When we form partnerships with businesses and organizations, everyone benefits. What is more, the public is very supportive of cause-related markring. These programs increase trust in a company’s product because the public sees the company in a more favorable light when it supports a worthy cause. Other benefits include: creating goodwill; expanding Drug Free Pennsylvania’s resources; strengthening our local presence; increasing community involvement; promoting voluneerism; and above all, growing our membership so more people gain access to our programs.
    • What do DDWH members receive?
      Members are provided with a comprehensive drug-free workplace program that includes an individually written substance abuse policy, a program manual, technical assistance, and up-to-date information through on-line newsletters. Through several consortia, members have access to lower-cost Employee Assistance Programs and employee drug and alcohol testing.
    • Is there a drug problem in the workplace?
      Employees carry the drug problem in the United States into the workplace. In 2000, over six million of current drug users were employed full-time. An additional 1.6 million worked part-time. The Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace estimates that annual productivity losses from substance abuse amount to $640 for every American worker regardless of whether they are substance abusers.
    • What companies have instituted drug-free workplace policies?
      A survey by the American Management Association indicated that over 70% of large firms have drug policies, which include drug testing of employees.
    • Why should small and medium sized businesses have drug policies?
      Substance abusers are unlikely to apply at firms that have an established drug policy. Instead, they will seek jobs with predominantly small businesses that do not routinely test applicants or current employees for substance use. A 1997 study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration, revealed that 11% of workers in businesses with 25 or fewer employees admitted current illegal drug use. This is over twice the rate reported by employees in larger firms. The drug abuse by American youth is carried into small and medium sized businesses as these individuals enter the workforce. Often, the first jobs held by youth are with smaller businesses.
    • Does Drug Free Pennsylvania provide drug testing?
      Drug Free Pennsylvania assists employers establish fair and reasonable drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures in accordance with their objectives. DFPA, however, is not a specimen collection site. Rather, we research available collection sites, coordinate business’s drug testing programs, provide its business members with a multi-state network of collection sites, handle account and protocol set-up, offer MRO review services for both positive and negative tests, and give swift and accurate test result reporting via the phone and followed-up by first class mail all at one low price.