Our nation's opioid crisis is becoming a growing epidemic in today's workplaces as well. From absences to decreased productivity, opioid abuse is making a big impact on businesses. In fact, opioid abuse costs employers approximately $10 billion from absenteeism and presenteeism alone, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Of course, employers aren't the only ones hurting from the opioid epidemic. According to a survey from the National Safety Council (NSC), one in four Americans personally knows someone who has overdosed or died from an opioid overdose, knows someone who has become addicted to opioids, or has become addicted themselves.
With so many compelling reasons to curb the opioid crisis, employers are in a unique position to take preventative measures within the workplace to save more lives. Here are three ways to address the opioid crisis in your own workplace:
|1. Reevaluate workplace drug policies
Employers should reconsider their current drug-free workplace programs and obtain legal counsel to advise on the best practices to address prescription opioid medication use.
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