In an article published by DATIA (Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association) sums up the issues in the workplace with opiods ad prescription drugs. The information was taken from the an article done by the National Safety Council Addresses Opioids and Prescription Drug Abuse in the Workplace

According to a recent survey by the National Safety Council (NSC), over 70% of employers are impacted by employee use of prescription drugs. In addition, according to the Center for Disease Control, the death rate for opioid overdoses is steadily increasing with more than half involving prescription opioids. Clearly, the nationwide opioid epidemic is impacting workplaces in a major way.

Those involved in providing safe and drug free workplace programs and drug testing programs should be prudent in addressing this increasingly important issue. Employers not addressing the issue within their workplace should be provided with information on how the epidemic may be impacting their workplace so that they may take proactive measures to establish a drug free workplace program. Two such tools for employers from the NSC are the Proactive Role Employers Can Take: Opioids In the Workplace and the Prescription Drug Employer Tool Kit.

DATIA will continue to keep its members abreast of the nationwide opioid epidemic and share tools that may be used when addressing the issue with clients and drug testing programs.

Information copied from DATIA eNews on June 15, 2017