SEC. 52.4. ADOPTION OF DRUG FREE WORKPLACE POLICY.
Every employer shall adopt a Drug Free Workplace Policy. At a minimum, that policy shall include the distribution or prominent display of educational information regarding the adverse effects of using illegal drugs and the availability of substance abuse assistance programs. This requirement may be satisfied by distributing to employees or prominently displaying the following statement or any materials containing the substance therein. The information contained in this statement shall be reviewed annually by the Health Commission for accuracy, with any suggested changes to the statement to be referred to the Board of Supervisors for review and consideration for approval. The information contained in this statement shall also be provided by the City in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and in any other language as may be requested by employers.
| The City and County of San Francisco is committed to working toward a drug-free work place. To that end, the following information is provided to increase your awareness that substance abuse can create life-threatening situations, can aggravate pre-existing psychological problems which users may or may not have experienced in the past, and can create psychological problems on its own:
| 1. Using illegal drugs, or using prescription drugs without prescriptions, or abusing any substance by ingestion, injection or inhalation, has the potential to kill the user.
| Consider these facts concerning some commonly abused substances:
— | COCAINE, INCLUDING CRACK COCAINE, IS A KILLER
• | Every dose of cocaine poses the risk of death for the user.
• | The amount of cocaine used safely yesterday can kill the user tomorrow depending on his or her general physical condition, age, race, heredity, sex, emotional state, health, the amount of exercise engaged in, alcohol or other substance ingested.
• | Even one line of snorted cocaine has been known to kill the user.
• | Cocaine and crack kill by causing HEART ATTACK, BRAIN SEIZURE, CARDIAC ARREST, STROKE OR SUFFOCATION.
• | Even one use of crack has been known to cause addiction, but two usages WILL cause addiction.
— | HEROIN IS A KILLER
• | Heroin depresses the user’s breathing response and the user can die of SUFFOCATION.
• | Heroin users as a group have the second highest identifiable incidence of AIDS.
• | Since the early 1980’s, users of heroin and synthetic heroin (particularly China White users) have run the risk of developing PARKINSON’S DISEASE-TYPE SYMPTOMS, including drooling, tremors and total paralysis, which begin to appear from two days to six weeks after usage and are irreversible.
— | STIMULANTS ARE KILLERS
• | Amphetamines and methamphetamines (SPEED) elevate heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure and the user can die of STROKE or HEART ATTACK.
— | PCP (PHENCYCLIDINE) IS A KILLER
• | PCP can cause the user to die from HEART ATTACK, LUNG FAILURE or KIDNEY FAILURE or RUPTURED BLOOD VESSELS IN THE BRAIN.
• | Even one dose of PCP can cause severe psychotic reactions.
• | PCP stores in fat cells and can be released into the body without warning many months after use causing severe trauma and injury.
— | LSD (LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE) IS A KILLER
• | LSD can cause life-threatening depression and severe psychotic reactions.
• | LSD users have a high incidence of SUICIDE.
• | LSD users have been known to engage in self-mutilation.
— | MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PSYCHOTIC PROBLEMS PARTICULARLY IF THE USER HAS A SUBMERGED TENDENCY TOWARD PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
• | Marijuana contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco and weakens the immune-defense system.
• | Because of new growing techniques, the marijuana available today contains three to seven times as much THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient) as it did in the 1960s and 1970s and can cause severe depression and other physical and psychological problems.
• | Marijuana causes a temporary disruption in the delivery of the male hormone testosterone, particularly in adolescents and slightly decreases organ size in males (which may be critical to a user with hormonal imbalance or in the throes of puberty).
— | INHALANTS ARE KILLERS
• | Inhalants can cause NERVE DAMAGE, BRAIN DAMAGE, BLOOD DISORDERS, RESPIRATORY ARREST, PNEUMONIA, HEART FAILURE, SUFFOCATION, LIVER FAILURE, KIDNEY FAILURE and DEATH.
• | Solvent sniffing can cause death by ASPHYXIATION, but chronic users also develop ulcers around the mouth and nose and IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE has been reported.
• | Inhaling aerosol fluorocarbons can cause erratic heartbeat with an increased pulse rate and cardiac arrest (known as SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH).
— | “DRUGS OF DECEPTION” ARE KILLERS
• | “Drugs of Deception,” which are chemical compounds made in illegal labs and are designed to look like known substances of established strength and effect, are frequently more dangerous and more deadly than the original compound.
• | For example, “DOB” is often sold as LSD-25, and while it adversely affects blood flow like other amphetamines, it is extraordinarily strong and can partially or completely close arteries in arms and legs fairly quickly, causing gangrene and necessitating amputation to save the user’s life.
— | ALCOHOL CAN KILL TOO!
• | Alcohol is one of the oldest psychoactive drugs used by man.
• | Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can cause damage, in some cases irreversible, to the brain, the nervous system, the liver and the pancreas.
| •• PANCREATITIS is a terribly painful disease which can kill the drinker.
| •• CIRRHOSIS of the liver can kill the drinker.
| •• Alcohol can have a dangerous addictive effect when combined with marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines and any sedative hypnotic such as barbiturates, methaqualone (quaaludes) and benzodiazepines.
| •• Withdrawal from alcohol can cause traumatic fatal brain seizures, psychosis and hallucinations.
• | In addition to its negative impact on good health, alcohol is a major factor…
| •• In violent crimes and automobile accidents. In fiscal year 1987/1988, 60 percent of those stabbed to death in San Francisco were under the influence of alcohol as were 42 percent of the vehicle drivers killed in accidents on city streets.
| •• In over half of all rapes and sexual attacks of children.
| •• In 90 percent of all arrests.
| •• In 50 percent to 60 percent of all murders.
| •• In incidents of suicide. Alcoholics have a suicide rate six to 20 times higher than the general population.
| •• In more than 50 percent of spousal-abuse incidents.
• | Use of alcohol by pregnant women is the leading cause of mental retardation in newborns and causes FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME which can lead to SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME.
— | DRUG COMBINATIONS ARE KILLERS
• | Drugs in combination are likely to result in death.
• | Alcohol is a depressant and when used in combination with other drugs such as cocaine, barbiturates or heroin can slow body functions to such an extent that breathing may stop and the user may die.
— | ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYONE WHO USES DRUGS IS ADDICTED, ONCE ADDICTION IS IN PLACE, IT IS A DETERIORATING CONDITION THAT WILL RESULT IN DEATH IF NOT TREATED.
— | FREQUENT USAGE OR HIGH DOSES OF DRUGS WILL IMPAIR SEXUAL PERFORMANCE.
— | THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL PERSONS ARRESTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMES IN SAN FRANCISCO TEST POSITIVE FOR DRUGS OR WERE HIGH AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARRESTS.
| 2. SUCCESSFUL WITHDRAWAL FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE OF ANY SORT CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. Withdrawal from some substances (barbiturates, for example) even entails an acute risk of fatality. Additionally, a pregnant opiate addict poses an exceptional problem because the fetus will also be dependent; withdrawal of the mother and the baby must be postponed until after birth when both can be treated in order to prevent death of the fetus.
| HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM MANY SOURCES. Don’t think you’re by yourself-one in four workers abuses some substance. Professionals can protect your life, your health and help your family and friends too.
• | Substance abusers commonly distress and confuse those closest to them to such an extent that “CO-DEPENDENCY” is becoming a commonly acknowledged disease with recognizable-and treatable-symptoms.
| The following is a short list of some available professional programs and resources specializing in the treatment of substance abuse and its impact on others. You may also wish to consult your personal physician.
Haight-Ashbury Drug Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Aftercare Project (no fee)
531 Clayton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
621-2015
Haight-Ashbury Alcohol Treatment Services (no fee)
124 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
552-7230
Walden House Multi-Service Center (free if indigent)
1885 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA
554-1130
Good Shepherd Gracenter (free if indigent)
503 Cambridge St.
San Francisco, CA 94134-1699
586-2822
Bill Pone Memorial Unit (for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, no fee, donations accepted)
Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic
529 Clayton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
621-2036, 621-2014
Asian American Recovery Service (free if indigent, sliding scale)
2024 Hayes St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
386-4815
La Casa de las Madres (for battered women, also provides shelter, crisis counseling, children’s services. Fees: for shelter only.)
La Casa
965 Mission St., D218
San Francisco, CA 94103
777-1808-Business
777-2860-Drop-in counseling
Pomeroy House (residential treatment for alcoholic women and their dependents. Fees: sliding scale)
2261 Bryant St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
282-8900
Redwood Center (admission through San Francisco detoxification programs. Fees: sliding scale)
Edmonds Road
Redwood City, CA 94062
366-5723
San Francisco VA Medical Center (20 beds for male and female military veterans. No fees, English and Spanish spoken)
4150 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
750-2075-Screening appointment
Tom Smith Substance Abuse Treatment Center (Fees: sliding scale based on ability to pay)
1001 Potrero Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110
821-8091
Women’s Recovery Home Salvation Army Harbor Light Services (Fees: monthly charge)
1275 Harrison St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
864-7000
Henry Ohlhoff Outpatient Program (for adults and adolescents in San Francisco, English and Spanish spoken. Fees: sliding scale)
2418 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
221-3354
Merritt Peralta Institute, A Chemical Dependency Hospital (Fees: charge for 28-day inpatient program or five-week outpatient program with one year of aftercare)
435 Hawthorne Ave.
Oakland CA 94609
652-7000
Futures in Recovery (works with employers, employee can receive treatment while remaining on job)
3601 Taraval St.
San Francisco, CA 94116
753-6700
San Francisco Health Department 24-hour
Drug Abuse and Information Hotline (for referral) 752-3400
San Francisco Health Department 24-hour
Suicide and Crisis Line (referral, some counseling) 221-1423
National Institute on Drug Abuse 1-800-622-HELP
Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education 1-800-241-7946
Cocaine Helpline 1-800-COCAINE
Westside Community Mental Health
1153 Oak Street
San Francisco, California
431-9000
Omega Boys Club
c/o Potrero Hill Neighborhood House
953 DeHaro Street
San Francisco, California
826-8080
Mission Neighborhood Health Center
240 Shotwell Street
San Francisco, California
522-3870
Instituto Familiar de la Raza
2947 16th Street
San Francisco, California 94103
431-7522
(Added as Police Code Sec. 4004 by Ord. 339-89, App. 9/28/89; redesignated by Ord. 221-23, File No. 230835, App. 11/3/2023, Eff. 12/4/2023, Oper. 1/4/2024)
