Meeting to focus on drugs

The Augusta-Aiken chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management is inviting all professionals in the field to learn about drugs in the workplace at the group's Friday meeting.

The chapter will hold its monthly professional development breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites, formerly Radisson Riverfront Hotel, in downtown.

"As human resource professionals, we need to stay current in the drug culture," said Shirley Evenson, the group's president-elect and the senior human resource representative for John Deere Commercial Products in Grovetown. "We need to be able to recognize certain behavior."

The meeting is free for chapter members and open to the public for a $15 cost, Evenson said.

Columbia County sheriff's Investigator Richard Wimmer, of vice narcotics, will give a presentation on identifying common illegal drugs, including marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, in addition to prescription drugs.

The presentation will discuss the effects of these drugs and signs that workers are using them, Wimmer said, adding that the bigger a workplace grows, "the more workers, the more possibilities some are on drugs."

Wimmer said he's given similar presentations, discussing terminology and displaying paraphernalia to supervisors at John Deere Commercial Products and at Quebecor World.

Evenson said the presentation is part of the group's focus on health and safety.

Most of the group's 70 members are human resource professionals and Evenson said she is urging them to bring their front line supervisors and managers to the meeting.

To attend the meeting, reservations are required and can be made by calling Melissa Brandt at (706) 774-5753.