Combating The Opioid Crisis In The Workplace

In the United States, two thirds of HR professionals say that the opioid crisis is affecting or will affect their workplaces. Prescription drug abuse is the biggest culprit, but that can lead to heroin use and other problems that can have dire consequences in the workplace. The opioid crisis has been at epidemic levels in the U.S. since 2017, but what can employers do to stop it?

Workplace drug testing is the single best way to prevent illegal drug use in the workplace, but it can’t always detect prescription drug abuse — if an employee has a prescription it will not show on a drug test. The average employee misses 10.5 days of work a year, whereas those who abuse prescription opioids miss upwards of 29 days a year. But that’s not the only consequence if opioid abuse in the workplace. Opioid misuse can impair performance and decrease workplace safety overall.

In order to combat opioid misuse and abuse in the workplace, employers can put safeguards in place that encourage those suffering from substance abuse disorders to seek help. Make sure that employees know there is a framework in place for asking for help, getting clean, and returning to work. Learn more about what employers can do to combat the opioid crisis in the workplace from the infographic below.