“Most working adults know or love someone with a drinking or drug problem.  Too often, the problems associated with substance abuse are crippling.”  This was the lead in to Riverside County’s Employee Assistance Program’s e-mail invitation to a noon time brown-bag workshop on Tuesday, June 26th, here in the Desert.  The announcement asked employees to come listen to a knowledgeable speaker address what YOU can do.

The speaker, Keith Fowler, is the Clinical Director of a residential facility specializing in the treatment of alcohol/drug problems. He is also an Intervention Coordinator, providing expert & complex intervention services to the families and loved ones of people with drug/alcohol problems.  I don’t know if your current employer has the moxie or interest to take on this subject, for the benefit of its employees, but Riverside County doesn’t seem to be a bit timid.

Receiving this invitation I realized that not every one of the +2,000 employees in the Desert would have a direct connection with this subject, but that many would have at some time in their career the confidence of a co-worker, member of the public, or a client, and if they had a greater understanding about substance abuse it could very well lead to them helping another human being when they most need support.  I for one plan to attend with brown bag in hand... Thank you Employee Assistance Program for being out there.