Employers Next Up to Solve Opioid Crisis

A majority of U.S. employers have been directly impacted by opioid misuse among employees.

By: Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, and Cindy Miller, CEO of Stericycle

America’s opioid crisis is no secret.

For the first time in U.S. history, a person’s lifetime odds of dying from an accidental opioid overdose have eclipsed the odds of dying from a motor vehicle crash. Health officials and scientists warn the U.S. is far from eliminating overdoses, and already we are losing tens of thousands of lives every year.

The opioid epidemic isn’t just crippling the health and wellbeing of those who struggle with opioid use disorder and their families. It’s also impacting businesses and the economy. Even the Federal Reserve has acknowledged this in its “Beige Book.”

The crisis has clear, defined effects on our workforce. In 2017, 95% of the almost 50,000 Americans who fatally overdosed on opioids were working age. A National Safety Council survey of employers across the nation shows 75% have been directly impacted by opioid misuse among employees. Thirty-eight percent have experienced absenteeism or impaired worker performance, and 31% have had an overdose, arrest, a near-miss or an injury because of employee opioid use. Despite that, only 17% of human resource professionals report being extremely well prepared to help employees dealing with opioid use disorder.

There are also consequences for the bottom line. Workers struggling with substance use disorders miss nearly 50% more work days than their peers, which equates to up to six weeks annually in lost productivity due to absenteeism. Additionally, in 2016, large employers paid $2.6 billion to treat opioid use disorder and overdoses, up eight-fold since 2004. The cost of the opioid epidemic topped $1 trillion from 2001 through 2017, and the sustained loss of labor productivity is projected to cost another $500 billion through 2020 unless we take substantial action.

The data-driven reality of what was once a hidden workplace issue presents new and complex challenges for employers. Rather than waiting for legislation and administrative agencies to set the precedent, it’s time for businesses to act. Now, more than ever, employers have an opportunity and a responsibility to protect their people, productivity and profits. In fact, research has shown that employer-initiated treatment is more effective than treatment initiated by friends or family.

Businesses must actively help prevent opioid misuse and addiction in the workforce. This can be done by developing a culture of health and wellbeing that reduces stigma, supports recovery, and is embraced by the highest levels of leadership. Implementing opioid misuse policies and procedures includes educating employees about opioid risks and signs of misuse, working with in-house or outside counsel to develop guidelines for employees who may need to take opioids, establishing a support program for those in recovery who plan to return to work, and implementing take-back programs so employees can safely dispose of unused or expired medicines.

As executives, it is our duty to ensure we have strong workplace policies, robust education and health benefit programs, a healthy workplace culture and well-trained managers to create a safe and productive work environment. We encourage our peers to proactively address opioid use and misuse in their workplaces by using the resources in the Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit.

If you are committed to cultivating a healthy workforce and protecting the communities in which you do business, you have a responsibility to address this crisis and save lives.

It’s time to take action.

Will you?

Lorraine M. Martin is the president and CEO of the National Safety Council, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Cindy Miller is the CEO of Stericycle, a business-to-business services company and complete provider of compliant medication and sharps disposal solutions that protect people and brands, promote health and safeguard the environment.