Cleanfax, MayJune 2018

decreased job performance because of prescription drug use at work The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC officially has declared the abuse of prescribed medications in the U S an epidemic According to the CDC opioids including prescription opioids and heroin killed more than 42000 people in 2016 which is more than any year on record and 40 percent of all opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid This alarming data cannot be ignored It is critical for every business owner to recognize and be prepared to deal with these issues issues that could affect their ability to sustain a successful business Obviously the opioid crisis is about more than statistics Those affected are family members friends and employees making it more than a dollar and cents issue We are all aware that the names and faces of those addicted are much different today than the junkies of years gone by Opioid addiction can strike anyone in an organization It knows no gender race age or financial status It affects us all Our future So where do we go from here Frankly burying your head in the sand or assuming your employees and business are not being affected is the worst thing to do and a failure of leadership You must act and doing so will make a difference A study published in 2009 in the medical journal Psychiatric Services found that employer involvement is effective in convincing employees to seek treatment Taking a proactive approach to reducing the chances of opioid abuse in the workplace is best done through education Educate yourself your managers and supervisors and all employees Here are some ways to get started Taking a proactive approach to reducing the chances of opioid abuse in the workplace is best done through education 1 Recognize the signs of on thejob opioid abuse Some to be aware of include Confused or dazed behavior Slurred speech Apparent and excessive mood swings Poor coordination Forgetfulness Nausea Increase or decrease in sleep 2 Establish clear and concise written policies on drug and alcohol abuse Areas you might want to address include newhire drug testing and post accident and or random drug testing However it is important to keep in mind your specific company and what you feel is in the best interest of your organization and your employees 3 Develop comprehensive employee and management level training for everyone This should be conducted at least annually 4 Consider the benefits of offering an Employee Assistance Program EAP to all employees From my experiences and from past success with an EAP the following basic components should be included Counseling services offered to employees and their immediate family members Services to be confidential and provided in a safe and private environment The guarantee that no loss of job or loss of promotional opportunities will result from anyone seeking assistance As an employer you may want to consider covering the costs of the initial screening Unfortunately opioid addiction is not going away and if it hasnt affected your business already chances are high that it will Therefore it is imperative that we as business leaders and owners recognize the issue and take a proactive approach to minimizing the potential negative aspects to our most importance assets our employees Only by accepting our responsibilities as members of our communities will we be able to have an impact on the opioid epidemic that is gaining control of our country Scott Tackett is a Business Development Advisor for Violand Management Associates VMA a highly respected consulting company in the restoration and cleaning industries He is considered the leading expert in restoration and cleaning for Human Resource Development and Organizational Leadership with over 30 years of experience Through Violand Tackett works with companies to develop their people and profits To reach him visit Violand com or call 800 360 3513 MAY JUN 2018 cleanfax com 31 Opioid addiction can strike anyone in an organization It affects us all