FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WORKSHOP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ON 
CREATING AND MAINTAINING A DRUG FREE ENVIRONMENT 

BROOKLYN, NY, April 3, 2002-Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) and the Boricua College Small Business Development Center will present a free, comprehensive, full-day workshop, "Create & Maintain a Drug Free Environment for Your Employees & Small Business."

The seminar will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at BEDC's offices 175 Remsen Street, Suite 350, downtown Brooklyn. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. To register, call the Small Business Development Center at Boricua College, 718-963-4112, ext. 563. Seating is limited.

Instructors from Prince and Page Consulting, a national leader in alcohol and substance abuse education, will discuss the following topics:

• Drug and alcohol testing and insights into handling situations involving "problem employees";
• Substance abuse policies and legal liability issues for the business owner and an in-depth introduction to reliable identification procedures; and,
• An overview of the alcohol and drug rules mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Drug Evaluation and Classification Program regarding safety-sensitive employees who drive motor vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license.

The workshop will be especially relevant to small businesses in construction, transportation, and manufacturing. The New York State Small Business Development Center estimates that up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries, can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism.

Alcohol and drug abuse has been estimated to cost American businesses $276 billion in lost productivity year-roughly 40 percent due to premature deaths and 60 percent due to illness and absenteeism. Small and medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable because many don't have the resources or time to commit to expensive pre-employment drug screening programs.

BEDC, a private, nonprofit organization, was established in 1979 to stimulate Brooklyn's economy and create job opportunities for the borough and its residents. BEDC has evolved into a multi-service, business-consulting agency, serving more than 1,000 clients annually and offering comprehensive economic development services. More information is available at www.bedc.org.