Program Statement

Rowan County is committed to maintaining a safe and productive working environment. The Rowan County Drug-Free Workplace Program endorses the federal government’s efforts in implementing the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.

This page is intended to provide information to employees about the County’s Drug-Free policies, standards of conduct, the health risks of drug and alcohol abuse, and available resources. This page is not intended as a substitute for counseling and treatment, but it can be a helpful starting point. Those who are interested in speaking with a professional about their questions and concerns are encouraged to click on the applicable resource on this page for more information and to contact counseling services.

Effects of Drugs

The consumption of drugs and alcohol can have significant negative effects on health. Repeated use of alcohol and drugs can lead to addiction, and cause serious damage to the nervous and circulatory systems, mental disorders, and other health problems.

Visit Drugabuse.gov for drug facts and risks, including:

• Fentanyl
• Cocaine and crack
• Marijuana
• Heroin and opioids
• "Bath salts" facts
• "Spice"
• Methamphetamine
• MDMA/ecstasy/"molly"
• Inhalants
• LSD and PCP ("angel dust")
• Tobacco facts
• Anabolic steroids

Medical Consequences of Drugs

Getting Help for Drug Use

Drug-Free Helpline

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also offers a drug-free helpline. Call the Drug-Free Workplace Helpline at 1-800-WORKPLACE (967-5752) for free and confidential help with creating and maintaining drug-free workplace programs.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Rowan County Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides professional counseling and referral to County employees and their family members. For issues of drug and alcohol abuse, short-term counseling is available through this program. If necessary, referrals can be made to private counselors or community agencies. Treatment may also be available to employees and their family members through their health coverage. All services of the EAP are confidential. Call your EAP any time, day or night, to talk to an experienced counselor at 800-633-3353 or go to the Rowan County EAP webpage.

QuitlineNC

Tobacco cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) treatment is available through QuitlineNC. As part of this program, members can call QuitlineNC and engage with a counselor. A highly trained quit coach will help create a personalized quit plan that includes dealing with triggers and tips for quitting and each caller can expect to receive: 

• A 20-to-40-minute initial assessment of each caller ready to make a quit attempt
• Advice on how to quit based on extensive scientific research. 
• Coaches follow-up with 3 more prevention calls lasting between 10 to 20 minutes. 
• If the member engages in all 4 calls with the quit coach, then they have completed the program and will get a completion certificate that will be mailed to their home address.  Certificates can also be emailed to the member.   

The QuitlineNC Coaches now have the ability to send two, 12-week supplies of FDA-approved NRT drugs to the member’s house.  This eliminates the member having to go to their primary care provider to obtain a prescription in order to obtain their two, 90-day trials of NRTs at no cost. 

Download Tobacco Cessation Fact Sheet (PDF) or instructions on Accessing the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tobacco Forum (PDF).

NC Quitline Information (for any NC resident): Telephone Service available 24/7 toll-free at:

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Interpretation services available for many languages. 
• Spanish: 1-855- Dejelo-Ya (1-855-335-3569)
• TTY: 1-877-777-6543
• or by registering online

Self-Assessments

Are alcohol and drugs affecting you? Take a self-assessment:

• Alcohol Screening Self-Assessment
• Drug Screening Self-Assessment

Virtual Coaching Program

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) virtual coaching programs are located on the Healthy Outcomes portal located on the BCBSNC website.  They are six-week-long online programs that are designed to support members with tools and strategies for reaching their goals.  The programs focus on various topics including a tobacco-free module.  The entire program is online-based and gives members the opportunity to focus on weekly goals, gives members a to-do list for reaching their goal and tracks their progress through the program.