Opioid use and your employees

health

Opioid Use and Your Employees

by: Tricia Pierce, Community Relations Specialist, Life Management Center

Substance abuse issues, including opioids, are causing many problems. One issue is that employers are seeing fewer applicants for open positions when a drug screening is involved. Another issue is employees are showing up for work unprepared and unable to successfully perform their job due to substance abuse. Of course, that’s when they do show up for work. While alcohol abuse remains the most prevalent substance abuse problem, opioid abuse can have

a more significant impact on the ability to work. According to the National Safety Council and the independent research institution, NORC at the University of Chicago, opioid users miss twice as many days of work as people with addictions to other drugs. Finally, employers are losing good employees as the substance negatively impacts their work.

So, what can you do to minimize the impact on your employees and your business? Most businesses are focused on how to help an employee receive treatment after a substance problem is already present. But, successful companies don’t approach other possible problems this way. Instead we try to identify problems before they arise and prevent them from occurring. Why don’t we do this with substance abuse issues?

First, we need to understand that the problem, whether it is alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs, typically is based in a problem deeper than the use of the substance. Individuals with substance use issues tend to have a co-occurring mental health issue that contributes to the use of substances. If we can identify mental health and/or substance abuse issues early and provide treatment and support to these individuals, there is a better chance treatment will be successful.

Here are a few approaches companies are taking to combat the problem:

■ Reviewing health plans to see if changes can be made that will help. For example, increasing coverage of physical therapy which could reduce use of opioids.

■ Encouraging employees who may be having a mental health and/or substance use problem to take advantage of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

■ Providing training to employees at all levels to increase awareness of the issue and empower them to support their coworkers.

■ In a recent article by Joel Bennett, Ph.D., in Workspan magazine, several things in the workplace were pointed out that he believes can have negative impact on substance abuse in employees:

■ Routine use of alcohol as the way to socialize with co-workers,

■ A tendency to stigmatize substance use as a “they” or “them” problem,

■ The belief that seeking help is a weakness,

■ Blind acceptance of a “suck it up” workplace attitude,

■ Ignoring and pushing through one’s own stress,

■ Looking the other way when witnessing harassment and bullying,

■ Ignoring the lonely or withdrawn co-workers who need encouragement,

■ Working next to someone who doesn’t make it safe for a worker to express himself or herself.

The article points out that any of these may be the cause, or an excuse for, someone to cover up some form of psychological pain. To combat these issues employers should provide training to destigmatize the issue and empower employees to step up and help their coworkers. This training can come in the form of lunch and learns, something more formal, or a combination of these.

One form of training that has gained popularity in recent years is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). The 8-hour course teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. MHFA gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing

a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis by utilizing a 5-step action plan. In the United States, the training is operated by the National Council on Behavioral Health. To learn more about these classes and what trainings are available, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid. org. Locally, Life Management Center is currently providing classes. You can see their schedule at www.lmccares.org or contact them to schedule a training for your staff.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GETTING HELP FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES:

SAMHSA

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/United Way’s 211 http://www.211nwfl.org/ or dial 2-1-1