Dealing with Opioid Abuse in the Workplace
You’ve heard that prescription painkillers have become a leading cause of drug overdose deaths, which now exceed car crashes as the leading cause of unintentional death. But you might be surprised to learn how pervasive opioid prescription use in the workplace – perhaps even yours.
The Scope of the Problem
A recent study of 200 Indiana employers found that prescription drug abuse currently affects 80 percent of companies. About two in three of the employers who were surveyed saw prescription drug abuse as a bigger problem in their workplaces than illegal drugs, with one in five reporting that there had been an injury or a near-miss related to prescription drugs.
- In 2021, 106,699 drug overdose deaths occurred. This is an age-adjusted rate of 32.4 per 100,000 standard population in the United States. That is more than any other year on record.
- A National Safety Council survey found that 75% of employers report that opioid use has impacted their workplace. However, only 17% report being extremely well-prepared to address the issue.
- Approximately half of all respondents 18 years or older who reported misusing opioids had full- or part-time jobs in 2021.
Opioid prescription medications have become a very real health and safety issue in the workplace. They can cause impairment, increase the risk of workplace incidents, errors and injury – even when taken as prescribed. Prescription painkillers also profoundly increase workers’ compensation costs, increase the length of worker disability and increase work time lost.
The drugs have become commonplace because they are highly effective painkillers and doctors are comfortable prescribing them. In fact, the Workers Compensation Research Institute reports that 65 to 85 percent of injured workers who received pain medications from 2010 to 2012 were given prescriptions for opioid drugs.
What Can Employers Do About Opioid Abuse?
Simply firing the employee is probably not your best course of action. It’s truly an issue you can’t ignore.
Maryland OSH says, “Many workplaces lack adequate support for substance abuse and mental health issues, frequently employing punitive measures such as zero-tolerance policies that may discourage employees from seeking help. These methods ignore that opioid use disorder is a chronic condition. Stigma and bias further inhibit workers from pursuing assistance. Rather than dismissing employees with substance use disorders, employers should implement supportive approaches that encourage treatment and recovery while preserving employment. Work provides structure, purpose, and financial security, which are crucial for overall well-being.”
Employers can prevent opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) through work policies and practices. Workplace-Supported Recovery Programs can help employers design supportive policies.