Clarifying Our Commitment to Recovery and Safety at Vegas Stronger
Last week, I shared on LinkedIn that we conduct an employee drug test on April 21 each year. While this is true — as I lead a drug and alcohol treatment center — the timing also served as a quip to the widely recognized 4/20 phenomenon associated with cannabis use. I don’t believe people wait until 4/20 to use substances, but if we are going to implement annual testing for professionals who work closely with individuals in early and fragile recovery, this date seemed as appropriate as any.
Thank you to everyone who engaged with the post about annual drug testing. Here are some of the colorful replies:
I want to provide more context for those who may not be familiar with our approach.
Vegas Stronger is structured as a Recovery-Oriented System of Care (ROSC) — not a manufacturing facility or a traditional corporate environment. Over 80% of our team members are in long-term recovery themselves. This creates a workplace that functions more like a therapeutic community, grounded in mutual trust, lived experience, and a shared commitment to sobriety and healing.
In my 20 years leading large treatment centers and helping over 10,000 individuals access care, I’ve found that annual universal drug testing is not about policing or “catching” anyone. It is a preventive, safety-centered measure that protects both our clients and our staff. It helps maintain the sacred space of recovery — an environment where everyone, including our team, can thrive in sobriety.
When a positive result occurs, our response is always compassionate, not punitive. In some cases, individuals may choose to step away voluntarily. In others, we’re able to offer immediate support and intervention. We recognize that recurrence is often part of the recovery journey. Our weekly all-staff town halls further reinforce a culture of openness, transparency, and collective accountability. Testing is simply one of several tools we use to support a healthy, sober, and emotionally safe environment.
In a small, recovery-focused workplace like ours, overlooking a recurrence among staff would compromise the integrity of the therapeutic setting. Upholding high standards is not an act of control — it is an expression of care, love, and respect for our clients and for each other.
I also want to emphasize several key points in response to recent conversations:
🔹 Testing Frequency and Intent
We conduct drug testing once per year — not at random or excessively. It’s a straightforward, scheduled practice aimed at reinforcing workplace safety and trust, not suspicion.
🔹 Compassionate Response
Our approach is rooted in understanding and support. If someone tests positive, they are met with empathy, not discipline. We recognize that slips can occur, and we aim to help individuals realign with their recovery goals — not penalize them.
🔹 Understanding Recovery Models
We acknowledge SAMHSA’s Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) definition, which honors self-defined recovery. We respect that viewpoint. However, at Vegas Stronger, we follow a structured, abstinence-based model, especially for opioid and stimulant use disorders, where continued substance use can pose significant health risks.
🔹 Trauma-Informed and Respectful Practices
We recognize that drug testing can be triggering or uncomfortable for some. That’s why we implement it with sensitivity, transparency, and respect for every individual’s dignity. It is never about control — it’s about reinforcing a stable and secure recovery setting.
At Vegas Stronger, our mission is to honor recovery in all its strength and vulnerability. Our drug-free policy is one piece of a larger commitment to cultivating a culture of safety, compassion, and mutual growth — for both our clients and our team. In a small recovery community like ours, ignoring a recurrence among staff would undermine the integrity of the entire milieu. Maintaining high standards isn't punitive — it's an act of love and respect for every client who trusts us with their recovery journey.
Thank you again to everyone who has engaged thoughtfully in this discussion. These conversations are exactly what help our recovery community evolve, reflect, and grow stronger together.