The initiative's main objective is to educate businesses about the benefits of making treatment available to addicted employees, according to a Winter 2004 article in "Hazelden Voice". William C. Moyers, vice president of external affairs at Hazelden, will oversee the initiative.

"HR professionals recognize that addiction treatment works and know that recovering employees come back after treatment as grateful, productive members of their companies," said Moyers. "Yet these enlightened beliefs aren't translated into a practice of directing employees into treatment at many companies, thanks to the stigma of addiction and lack of knowledge about the benefits of substance abuse treatment."

Kimberly-Clark is one company that knows the benefit of treatment for its workplace. At a panel discussion in December, James Quayle, head of medical affairs for Kimberly-Clark worldwide, said the company developed an alcohol and drug policy that stressed early intervention and treatment about 25 years ago.

"I don't know why an organization would be resistant to treating the illness and getting an employee into recovery," said Quayle. "Recovering employees come back to us better than ever - better than the average employee. They come back as rejuvenated, productive employees who are grateful for the opportunity to turn their lives around."

Kimberly-Clark regularly tells its health benefit administrators that quality addiction care should be available and tailored to individual needs.

"Some insurers say you have to fail in outpatient treatment before going to residential treatment," said Quayle. "We believe residential care is good. Treatment should be customized to the individual's needs and prescribed by the treatment experts."

H. Westley Clark, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, sat on the same panel. He said leadership like that found at Kimberly-Clark is essential.

"We need enlightened companies to make sure that people recognize that addiction is a common disease that needs adequate insurance coverage. If there's a conspiracy in the community to be silent, to refuse to acknowledge that the person next to you or yourself has this disease, then the treatment gap is going to persist."

For more information on Hazelden's outreach campaign for businesses, go to www.hazelden.org/business.