Have you heard the term ‘fentanyl’ before? Even if not, you might be familiar with opioids. It is a type of synthetic opioid analgesic that has similar properties to morphine. The only difference is that fentanyl can be around 50 to 100 times more potent.
It is believed that prolonged use of this drug can be habit-forming or addictive. According to MedlinePlus, fentanyl can even lead to death if accidentally consumed by children or adults to whom it is not prescribed.
What’s scarier than that is knowing America is suffering from a fentanyl addiction crisis. Though drug overdose deaths have decreased in 2023 (the first time since 2018), an epidemic of over-consumption spreads. This crisis is naturally impacting businesses across all industry verticals.
In this article, we will discuss America’s fentanyl epidemic and how it is impacting employers. Toward the end, we will also share some tips or strategies to help employees maintain an orderly workplace.
An Epidemic That Seems to Have No End
As per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the opioid crisis is not as recent as we might think. It dates back to the 1990s, killing 600,000 individuals since 1999. Even now, the threat lingers that 1.2 million people may become a sad statistic for overdose by the end of this decade.
The way this public health crisis has turned out; it is being termed the worst catastrophe of our time. It can be said that the pandemic period both escalated and masked the problem. Gradually, the depth of the scenario has come to the surface.
It is alarming, to say the least, since 16 million people worldwide suffer from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that 2.1 million of those cases belong to the United States. If concrete measures are not taken sooner, there is no telling of the damage this epidemic can do.
Fentanyl Trafficking and Injurious Solutions
Now, for the longest time, it was believed that the root cause behind the fentanyl or opioid crisis was immigrants who illegally brought drugs into our country. Only recently this has been proved as false.
In February 2023, US officials caught a woman trying to smuggle meth and fentanyl across the US-Mexican border in her pickup truck. She was not an immigrant but a US citizen.
Republicans have been blaming President Biden’s ‘open border policy’ for the fentanyl crisis. The truth is it is none other than our folks smuggling the drugs through legal ports of entry (more than 96%).
In one case, fentanyl smuggling was caught inside the metal frame of a walker. While the border points like deserts were being constantly monitored, the inevitable kept happening right under our noses. This is a rule and not the exception. So, one side of the issue is that stopping fentanyl entry into the US is extremely challenging.
Then, there is the issue of proper treatment for those already suffering. The issue is not a lack of treatment options. Medications like Suboxone are touted to be quite effective against opioid use disorder. The problem is it can lead to concerning side effects that attack oral health.
According to TorHoerman Law, many patients reported developing tooth decay, root infection, and other injuries after using Suboxone. It seems like the drug’s manufacturer was aware of the risks involved but failed to warn patients and healthcare providers.
This is precisely what called for a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit, now filed by over 650 people. They are a part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) handled by the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The solutions are only creating more problems, thereby aggravating the current situation.
Employers Are Paying a High Price
The main problem with any type of public health crisis, especially one involving addiction, is that it will affect every sphere of society. The brunt of the fentanyl or opioid crisis is being endured by companies across all industry verticals. Let’s discuss some of the main costs employers have had to pay.
Increase in Absenteeism
Let’s clear the air regarding what presenteeism means. It is taken to be a state in which a worker is physically present at work despite an impaired mental/cognitive state. Absenteeism is when an employee does not show up at work.
Substance abuse, including that of fentanyl, can impact mood and enthusiasm to such an extent that a worker may decide to skip work. Over time, the number of absent days only increases. The cost of unplanned absenteeism can go up to an estimated $600 billion every year.
Reduced Employee Productivity
Just because absenteeism is bad does not mean the solution is presenteeism. Workers may show up at work but never live up to their potential. OUD can severely affect employee productivity because it impairs cognitive functioning.
The result of substance abuse is often slow reaction time, difficulty in decision-making, and diminished focus. Plus, even emotional balance is disturbed, which means such workers may easily get into arguments and violent fights. Since productivity falls, the output declines. This will naturally impact sales and revenue.
Smaller Pool of Qualified Candidates
We have been hearing about US labor shortages for quite some time now. As of 2024, the figure stands at a shocking 70%. This means 7 in every 10 employers are unable to find suitable candidates for any job profile.
Some part of this has to do with the fentanyl crisis. Substance abuse does not allow an individual to function at their optimal best. Rigorous tests are also conducted to see whether chosen candidates have a history of substance abuse. As the epidemic spreads, it renders more and more people unqualified for work, mainly across transportation and construction industries.
Up until now, we focused on the growing problem in the US without addressing any possible solutions. The question is whether employers can take any action to address this issue. Yes, some ways in which employers can impact the crisis positively include:
- Supporting a recovery-friendly, stigma-free workplace
- Developing flexible accommodation work policies
- Educating employees on the impact of substance abuse and how they can seek assistance
- Expanding and offering employee assistance programs for barrier-free preventive services
- Training managers and supervisors regarding appropriate impairment responses
- Utilizing proven technologies to detect and address impairment issues
We do believe that a one-size-fits-all answer to this crisis may not exist. However, hands can join in hand to help alleviate things so that they’re not as bad as are.
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