Help available for families, workers coping with addiction to go to feel safe and be able to share their struggles,” she said. “They know that it will be kept confidential and they will learn that they are not alone.” The first step in the process is simply talking. The EAP coordinator asks questions to try to determine the best path forward. “We talk to them about why they came to us,” said Nuding. “We go deep into it. We try to get them to let us know what they need.” Nuding said that among the coordinators, there is a wealth of knowledge, support collegiality. EAP coordinators are trained to perform assessments and then Nuding Elected leaders back treatment, addiction reform measures State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently announced a new program that will equip state and local police with a heroin antidote to treat overdose victims at the scene. The Community Overdose Prevention (COP) program, will provide funding to equip officers with naloxone hydrochloride, also known as Narcan. The program will also teach officers how to properly administer the drug when responding to an overdose call. Schneiderman granted $5 million in joint federal-state criminal and civil forfeiture money for funding the program. CSEA supported 11 state legislature bills this year to combat the heroin epidemic. Some of the measures will: • Increase penalties on arrested dealers and prescription fraud; • Authorize the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to establish demonstration programs throughout the state provide referrals. “We are not counselors, but we are there to assist and refer,” Nuding said. “We want people to feel comfortable enough so they can share, so we can get them help.” — Therese Assalian “Heroin is destroying our communities, and it’s time we looked at broader solutions to fight back.” — State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to test new approaches to providing services to individuals who are attempting to detoxify from heroin where a hospital level of care is unnecessary; • Require OASAS to work with the state Department of Health to create a heroin and opioid addiction services demonstration program that would provide services to adolescents and adults for up to nine months after the successful completion of a treatment program; • Require the education commissioner to update drug abuse curriculum in health education courses every three years; and, • Require more consistent insurance coverage of appropriate treatment programs. ALBANY — CSEA member Nancy Nuding has held many volunteer positions over the last 25 years helping adults and children alike. So, she was more than qualified for taking on the position of EAP coordinator at New York State Department of Transportation Region 1 offices in Albany last year. Like other EAP coordinators in offices throughout the state, Nuding, also a keyboard specialist 1 at DOT, has undergone extensive training and is ready to help. “The greatest gift in this program is people coming and knowing they have somewhere Confidential help is available through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for any issues you or a family member might be struggling with such as: • Addiction and chemical dependency • Grief and loss • Managing change • Family and marital issues • Eating disorders • Stress • Legal • Financial • Elder and child care 12 The Work Force October 2014
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