This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert June 3, 2009 Preventing Drug Abuse and Crime Drug abuse remains one of the top five costliest health problems in the United States. Most of the money invested in combating alcohol and drug abuse goes towards responding to the consequences of these societal problems. Only a minimal two percent goes to prevention, according to a recent report from the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. The study also found that 96 percent of the $467.7 billion that federal, state, and local governments spend on substance abuse is used to deal with the public effects, including crime and homelessness. Healthcare costs associated with substance abuse receive the largest percentage (58.0). Governments spend the second largest percentage (13.1) on costs of prosecuting and jailing offenders. In a related study from the United States Office of Drug Control Policy, over half of the men arrested in nine selected cities tested "positive" for drugs. The only exception to this finding was Washington, DC with 48.6 percent, which experienced an almost 30 percent decrease between 2007 and 2008. Most of the cities, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New York, Portland (Oregon), and Sacramento, either remained the same or decreased in percentages of positively testing men arrested. Only Charlotte increased and then only by a fraction of a percent (0.2). These data point to the opportunity to implement prevention programs and perhaps eliminate at least some of the crime that is perpetrated on the urban public. In fact, when we look at the cost effectiveness of prevention versus treatment, the solution is obvious. The founder and chairman of CASA, former US Drug Czar Joseph Califano, said it well: To reduce the amount spent on drug abuse, the government needs to "mount major prevention programs with a focus on kids". However, Califano also said that the main reason that governments have these backwards priorities is that there is a stigma attached to drug and alcohol addiction. Our forecast is that world governments, especially the new administration in Washington, will choose to invest more on prevention. With the growing need to economize in every way, it just makes sense. Hopefully, treatment programs will not suffer. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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