There is considerable consensus about the effects of drug use
Opioid abuse has contributed to the shrinking workforce accounting for up to 1/5 of the drop in employment of men(1)
Workers abusing opioids specifically take triple the days off work as the general workforce does(2)
Estimates show this epidemic costs the U.S. economy over $95 billion annually, with employers paying $18 billion of that themselves(3)
In 2016, Iowa alone had 183 deaths that were caused by opioid-related causes including overdose(4)
It is estimated that the opioid epidemic cost the United States over $500 billion dollars in the years prior to 2015, representing costs of missed work, lives, healthcare and other costs directly related to opioid usage (5)
By 2020 it is predicted that the opioid epidemic will cost an additional $200 billion (6)
Studies have shown that the cost to employers to replace works for drug use costs 21% of that employees annual salary (7)
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse or addiction, the following 24/7 resources are available for support.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Crisis Text Line: Text “Listen” to 741-741
(1) Saraiva, Catarina, et al. “Opioids on the Job Are Overwhelming American Employers.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 20 Sept. 2017, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-20/overdosing-on-the-job-opioid-crisis-spills-into-the-workplace. (2) O'Neill, Mary Kay. “Opioid Epidemic and Workplace Implications.” Mercer. Mercer, 2018, Seattle. (3) Rhyan, Corwin N. “The Potential Societal Benefit of Eliminating Opioid Overdoses, Deaths, and Substance Use Disorders Exceeds $95 Billion per Year.” Altarum, 16 Nov. 2017, altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/Research-Brief_Opioid-Epidemic-Economic-Burden.pdf. (4) National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Iowa Opioid Summary.” NIDA, 28 Feb. 2018, www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/iowa-opioid-summary. (5) The National Institute on Drug Abuse Blog Team. "Prescription Drugs." Drugs & Health Blog, , National Institute on Drug Abuse, https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs. Accessed 28 Aug. 2018. (6) Altarum. (2018, February 13). Economic Toll Of Opioid Crisis in U.S. Exceeded $1 Trillion Since 2001. Retrieved from https://altarum.org/about/newsand-events/economic-toll-of-opioid-crisis-in-u-s-exceeded-1-trillion-since-2001 (7) National Safety Council. Implications of Drug Use for Employers. Retrieved from https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/drugs-at-work/costs-foremployers (8) https://teens.drugabuse.gov/games