Prescription Drug Impact in the Workplace Iowa Drugged Driving Summit September 27, 2016 Tess Benham, Sr. Program Manager, National Safety Council 1
Drug Overdoses now cause more deaths than car crashes. Prescription painkillers contribute to more deaths than any other type of drug. 2
45% of U.S. population used a prescription drug in 2014. 3
Illegal Drug Use in U.S. 22.2 million people age 12 and older are current marijuana users. 6.5 million people current misusers of prescription drugs. 4.3 million misused opioid pain medications. 7.1 million people were had drug use disorder or addiction, most commonly marijuana or pain relievers. 4
Common Workplace Risks Associated with Prescription Painkiller Use Risk of incidents and injuries Driving vehicles to/from/at work Operating machinery/ equipment Making critical errors Productivity (pace, focus and concentration) 5
Painkiller misuse increase medical claim costs and the length of disability Length of Disability Medical Claim Costs Insurance Fraud 6
Results from a Survey of Indiana Employers November 2015 7
Participant Demographics 79% have HQ in Indiana 77% in their field 10+ years 71% have no emp. covered by union regs or contracts 68% senior-most for location or organization 65+ have employees at multiple locations (n=201- Total) 36. Where is your headquarter location located? 30. If applicable, how many years have you worked in your field? 34. Are any of your employees covered by union regulations or contracts? (n=201 - Total) 31. Which statement best describes your personal level of responsibility within your organization for health and safety issues? 35. Do most employees at your organization work? 8
Scope of the Problem 9
Most Indiana companies impacted by RX abuse Observed Workplace Issues (n=201- Total) Observed an Issue (NET) Use of Rx painkillers at work Absenteeism or missed work Family member affected Impaired/ decreased job performance Borrowing or selling Rx drugs at work Complaints to HR/ negative morale Near miss or injury related to Rx Arrest (on/off job) Overdose None 5% 10% 23% 19% 19% 20% 35% 41% 41% 40% 6. Keeping in mind that all information will be kept strictly confidential, which of the following are you aware of having occurred in your workforce? Please include any occurrence, even if it is few in number. 59% 80% 10
and feel it is a problem Agreement with Statements Justifiable reason to fire Strongly 39% Somewhat 37% % Strongly/Somewhat 76% Bigger problem than illegal drugs 18% 46% 64% Harming safety 14% 32% 46% Moral/ ethical failure 16% 29% 45% Lowering productivity 12% 32% 44% Is a problem 11% 28% 39% Decreasing morale 5% 26% 31% Causing near misses or injuries 6% 24% 30% Making it hard to hire 6% 23% 39% Increasing Worker s Comp. 5% 23% 28% Making it hard for keep 3% 18% 21% (n=201- Total) 5. Please rate your agreement with each of the following statements about the impact of prescription drugs on your organization. Misuse or abuse of prescription drugs is? 11
but everyday concerns eclipse the problem. Level of Concern - Issues Major Concern 74% 68% 51% 46% 42% 29% 25% 23% Ability to hire Benefits Costs Aging of the workforce Worker comp / costs Illness / absenteeism RX drug misuse Illegal drugs Workplace violence (n=201- Total) 1. How concerned are you about the impact each of the following issues may have on your organization? 12
Underlying beliefs a barrier to organizational change. Agreement with Statements a justifiable reason to fire an employee. a moral or ethical failure. 24% 76% 55% 45% Agree Do not agree (n=201- Total) 5. Please rate your agreement with each of the following statements about the impact of prescription drugs on your organization. Misuse or abuse of prescription drugs is? 13
Behaviors of Indiana Employers 14
Most cover drug tests, but few address abuse. Topics Covered by Organizations Written Policy None of these 5% Drug testing 84% Employee use of drugs without a prescription Return to work policies for employees undergoing substance abuse treatment Employee use of prescription drugs at work Employee responsibility to notify supervisors of prescription drug usage Performance improvement plan for employees who have failed drug tests or whose performance has 34% 60% 58% 53% 48% Unsure/Don t know (n=201- Total) 10. Which of the following topics are specifically covered in your organization s written policies? 4% 15
Most conduct drug testing Conduct Drug Testing Yes (NET) 87% Pre-employment 79% When need is indicated 63% At random intervals 39% On a fixed schedule 3% No 13% (n=201- Total) 20. Does your organization require drug testing for your employees? 16
but few test for opioids Substances Tested For Cannabinoids (Marijuana, THC) Opiates (Codeine, Morphine, Heroin) Amphetamines (including Cocaine Barbiturates (Seconal, phenobarbital, etc.) Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Phencyclidine (PCP) Methadone Synthetic Opioids (Oxycodone, Methaqualone (Quaaludes) Propoxyphene Other (n=174- Require Drug Testing) 22. What substances are tested for? Don t Know/Not Sure 11% 26% 31% 43% 64% 61% 57% 52% 77% 93% 91% 91% 91% 17
Most take advantage of an EAP.. Use Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Level of Usage of EAP Yes (net) 87% 76% Annonymously assist 79% Develop plan to assess/ treat Identify employees with abuse issues Other No 29% 12% 3% 12% 22% 2% Increasing Staying the same Decreasing (n=201- Total) 18. How confident are you in your EAP providers ability to handle substance use, misuse or abuse issues? (n=176- Have EAP) 19. s that rating based upon? 18
Most want to return employees to work... Organizational Approach to Employee Misuse/Abuse of Drugs or Alcohol 63% 33% Returning them to their position after appropriate treatment (n=201- Total) 2% 1% 1% Dismiss them Ignore the problem Ensure they have careful supervision for the rest of their careers 9. Which of the following, would you say, best reflects your organization s approach to an employee who is found to be misusing or abusing drugs or alcohol? Relocated them to positions of lesser responsibility 19
but can t identify who needs help... Very Confident can Identify Warning Signs 38% 35% 26% (n=201- Total) HR Supervisors Employees 8. How confident are you that your Human Resources department, supervisors and employees can correctly identify behavior that is a warning sign of misuse or abuse of prescription medication? 20
because very few offer any training. Offer Training Do not Train, 71% Train, 29% 29% train supervisors 13% also train employees (n=201- Total) 11. Does your organization currently offer training around workplace usage of prescription drugs? 21
Prescription for Employers 1. Recognize prescription drugs have big impact on your workplace 2. Put strong policies in place 3. Expand drug testing panels to include opioids 4. Train supervisors and employees how to spot signs 5. Treat substance use problems as a disease 6. Leverage EAP to assist employees to return to work 22
Questions For more information: Tess Benham 630-775-2159 Email: Tess.Benham@nsc.org 23
Appendix - Slides 24
Rate Rates of opioid sales, overdose deaths, and treatment admissions, US, 1999-2010 8 7 6 5 Opioid Sales KG/10,000 Opioid Deaths/100,000 Opioid Treatment Admissions/10,000 Enough Pills for every American Adult 4 3 2 1 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year 259m Opioid RX 2012 National Vital Statistics System, DEA s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System, SAMHSA s TEDS 25
Opioids Are Not More Effective for Most Pain 26
Most people underestimate the addictiveness 78% Very Addictive 55% Very Addictive Heroin Hydrocodone Oxycodone Yet, these drugs are chemically the same! 27
Who Is At Greater Risk for Developing a Problem With Prescription Opioids? Personal or family history of addiction or substance abuse Having participated in previous treatment programs for addiction Suffers from depression or anxiety Long term use of prescription opioids 28