Prescription Drugs in the Workplace

It's a national epidemic. Prescription drugs kill more people in the United States - about 47,000 people every year - than motor vehicle crashes. Opioid painkillers are the biggest culprit, killing 52 people every day, but antidepressants, sleeping pills and other drugs also are being misused at an alarming rate. You'd think such a widespread problem would be front-page news, but surprisingly, many people don't know about it, doctors continue to over-prescribe and the death rate continues to rise. Employers have a huge role in helping end these unnecessary deaths. Did you know employer-supported treatment yields better recovery rates than treatment initiated by friends and family members? Does that sound like a lot of responsibility for you as an employer? It is. Case Study: Indiana Eighty percent of Indiana employers have been impacted by prescription drug abuse in their workplaces, according to a survey conducted by the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force. Two-thirds of employers believe prescription drugs are a bigger problem than illegal drugs, and drug poisonings have increased fivefold in Indiana since 1999. Interestingly, though 80% of employers have experienced this problem, only 53% have a written policy on prescription drugs. And of those who do drug testing, only 52% test for commonly abused opioids. While this survey specifically focused on Indiana employers, the results reflect national trends, according to recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. In fact, most deaths from prescription drug overdose are working-age adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to safety concerns, there is a very real cost attached to drug misuse and abuse in the workplace: • Absenteeism • High turnover • Injury and accidents • Workers compensation costs • Healthcare costs • Theft Expanded Drug Testing and Policy Employer-initiated treatment does work. Employers in Indiana said they want to help their employees recover and come back to work; they're seeing addiction as an illness and not a personal failure, according to the survey. In addition to expanding drug testing panels to include opioids, training employees is key. • Form a team of both internal employees and external experts - doctors, law enforcement, wellness vendors, even a coroner who can speak to the death rates related to prescription drug overdose • Identify resources; how much money is in the budget for training? • Develop policies and procedures on drug testing, disciplinary action, education and training, and remember that doctors who treat your employees won't know your company policy • If an employee doesn't tell you they are taking prescription drugs, you won't know unless an accident occurs; engage employees so they will step up and identify concerning behavior • Maintain or develop a relationship with local law enforcement • Treat substance abuse as a disease • When an employee does return to the workforce, reintegration should involve continued treatment, random drug screening and limited stress in the workplace For more information on Drug Free Workplace Training or examples of drug panels that include expanded opiates contact Mobile Medical Corporation 888-662-8358 ext. 201.