ASHLAND, Ky. — The Tri-State Regional Consortium on Substance Abuse will host “Addiction Is Bad

For Business: Strategies to Prevent Workplace Drug Abuse,” Thursday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

Ashland Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Ashland, Ky.

The Tri-State Regional Consortium on

Substance Abuse is comprised of Pathways, Inc. (Kentucky), The Counseling Center (Ohio), Family Guidance Center (Ohio), and Prestera Center (West Virginia). The keynote speaker for the event is Robert “Bob” Stutman, a 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration, in charge of the New York office.

He is a

drug consultant for PBS and CBS and author of “Dead on Delivery,” a bestselling autobiography made in to a

Showtime movie. With 1,500 clients, Stutman is the principal of the largest consulting company in the United States, dealing with substance abuse in the workplace.

Stutman has been called “one of the nation’s heroes” by

Dan Rather, but he is best known as “the most famous narc in America” (N.Y. Magazine). Stutman will

kick off the event, speak during lunch and will be available for questions immediately following the event.

The event will include fast-paced, 30-minute sessions on other topics such as drugs 101, drug free workplace policy, drug testing, legal issues, substance abuse, prevention and treatment resources, and brief intervention screening for use in the workplace.

As a bonus, each participant will receive a Drug Free

Workplace Toolkit for Small Businesses.

The event is free of charge and lunch is provided.

“More than 70 percent of drug abusers hold jobs,” said consortium chair Veronica Nunley.

“Compared to their non-abusing coworkers, drug users are ten times

more likely to miss work and are 33 percent less

productive when they show up.

Drug users are also 3.6 times more likely to be involved in on-the job accidents

and five times more likely to file a Worker’s Compensation claim — this is a bottom line issue for employers.”

Sponsors for the event include the Tri-County KY-Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Local Board, Carter County Drug Free Coalition, Ashland Plaza Hotel and Convention

Center and Moe’s Southwest Grill.

For more information or to register for the event, contact one of the consortium partners: Pathways, Inc. at

(606) 324-8588, extension 4109; The Counseling Center at (740) 354-3829, extension 243; Family Guidance at

(740) 532-7855, ask for Ruth; or Prestera Center at (304) 525-7851, extension 1505.