Unfortunately, we’re still in the midst of a full-blown opioid epidemic. As a responsible decision maker within a construction business, it’s important to recognize the intricate relationship between job site injuries and opioid misuse – and do what you can to both protect the health of your workers and make your job site safer.
What should you know about managing the human and financial costs of opioid misuse?
The Complicated Relationship Between Job Site Injuries and Opioid Misuse
Let’s start by briefly exploring the complicated relationship between job site injuries and opioid misuse.
First, understand that injuries and pain originating on a construction job site can lead someone to opioid misuse. Doctors and health care providers are doing a better job of avoiding prescribing strong opioids to patients, but people suffering from significant pain may still be inclined to seek out opioids in other forms. Regardless of how the opioid medications are obtained, persistent misuse can lead to an opioid use disorder, which can have a constellation of negative consequences both for the individual suffering from it and the people around them.
When someone does start misusing opioids, they become a liability on the job site, potentially leading to more injuries. Opioid medications can make you sleepy, stifle your reaction time, interfere with your judgment, and distort your ability to accurately perceive your environment. This is a recipe for disaster if you’re around other people with heavy equipment and dangerous hazards.
Why Opioid Misuse Is a Problem
It’s estimated that approximately 1 percent of construction workers have an opioid use disorder; this may not seem like a massive population, but it’s twice the national average. Opioid misuse is a problem on the job site for several reasons:
· Job site safety. As we’ve already mentioned, opioid use is a complication for job site safety. Even one of your workers on a relatively low dose of opioid medication can cause serious harm to themselves or others. If, through luck, there is no injury, your organization is still going to suffer from a decline in productivity as a result.
· Addiction and withdrawal. People who misuse opioids are likely to experience problems with addiction and withdrawal. These drugs are incredibly addictive, motivating their users to continue using them indefinitely and interfering with their quality of life. If and when an opioid user does decide to cease using these drugs, they may suffer from withdrawal, which can be an incredibly hard, days-long experience.
· Dose increases and overdoses. People with an opioid use disorder are likely to continue increasing their doses as they build a tolerance to the medication. In many cases, this can eventually lead to an overdose.
· Additional care. On top of that, people who misuse opioids will likely need additional care in the future, increasing healthcare costs and delaying their return to work.
Who’s at Risk?
Almost everyone is potentially at risk of an opioid use disorder, provided they’re introduced to these medications under the right circumstances. However, some people are more vulnerable than others.
· Injuries and pain. Many people with opioid use disorders started using these medications as a way to alleviate pain. People with injuries and chronic pain are particularly susceptible to them.
· Demographics. Men are more likely than women to have opioid use disorders. Older folks are more likely to misuse opioids as well.
· Finances. Opioid misuse on the job site is common among people with severe financial needs; they may feel pressure to start making money as soon as possible, even if they’re not fully ready to return.
· Stress. Stress and personal hardship can greatly complicate opioid misuse. It makes people more likely to seek out this type of medication and actively hinders their recovery.
How Can You Help?
So what can you do to help these people and prevent opioid misuse on or around your job site?
· Create a thorough, clear drug and alcohol policy. Make sure your organization has a strong, comprehensive drug and alcohol policy in place. Then, make sure all of your employees and contractors understand that policy.
· Conduct drug screenings. Employers are sometimes reluctant to conduct drug screenings, but these screenings are one of the most important strategies you have for preventing drug misuse.
· Train and educate your employees. All your employees should be aware of the dangers of opioid use, both on and off the job site. Even a relatively short seminar should be enough to bring your people up to speed on opioids.
· Provide support for employees. Adequate support can help employees overcome their addictions, confront their issues, and change for the better. Prioritize open communication with your team and be ready and willing to recommend resources to the employees who need them.
· Introduce a return to work (RTW) program. A return to work (RTW) program is a formal program within your organization designed to help people return to work as quickly as possible without putting them at risk of additional injury or harm. It’s an excellent way to help injured and struggling people get back on the job site to make money, without overburdening them with complicated or physically demanding tasks.
Opioid misuse is a serious problem in our country, and it’s not going away anytime soon. You may not be able to solve the entire epidemic, but you can at least get more control over your local job site and help keep your people safe and healthy.
