At the end of April, ARPEL participated in the "First International Day for the Prevention of Consumption of Psychoactive Substances in the Workplace" organized by the Department of Comprehensive Policies on Drugs of Argentina (Sedronar) with the support of YPF.

The event brought together more than 100 professionals from Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay that gathered to discuss public policies, prevention, implementation of programs in the private sector, the role of workers' organizations, the role of civil society and new approaches to address the issue.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) presented the international framework for policy development. In addition, SENDA (Chile), JND (Uruguay), SEDRONAR (Argentina), the Ministry of Labor (Argentina) and representatives of the Congress of Argentina presented the actions that the governments of these countries are taking to combat the problem.

A panel of representatives of six unions gave the workers' perspective, and the effort made by union organizations for education, prevention and support in recovery.

There were also representatives of the private sector: Alejandra Posada of Cablevisión, Rodrigo Fernández Blanco of Acindar and Ernesto González of CAPLA. José Luis Cristini, Manager of Occupational Health of YPF and Pablo Ferragut, Project Manager of ARPEL, were the representatives of the oil and gas industry.

This panel highlighted the efforts and strategies of companies to support workers with this problem based on the successful cases of the above-mentioned companies, the cultural change in favor of inclusion and participation of all parties, the importance of communication and of the awareness of the medical staff and human resources of companies to make prevention programs sustainable.

ARPEL works actively on the issue of prevention of the use of psychoactive substances in oil and gas companies through its Health, Safety and Environment Committee, and is preparing an International Seminar on this topic that will be held September 20-21 in Buenos Aires.