OPIOID ADDICTION IS A PREVENTABLE DISEASE
Opioid addiction is a problem that could affect anybody. No one is immune. This health crisis causes thousands of deaths each year.* It’s rooted in human pain: physical, emotional and social. By taking a compassionate, evidence-based approach to treatment, we can focus on education and prevention to help stop the disease before it starts. By working together to tackle opioid addiction like we do other deadly diseases, we can help stop the stigma and break the cycle. A sympathetic employer can help their employees recover their health and their lives.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES
Here are some ways to help your employees manage pain:
- Fight the stigma. Let employees know that they can confidentially seek treatment without jeopardizing their jobs.
- Take advantage of the EAP. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers counseling, information and support for all types of issues. It’s especially useful for managers to help with unfamiliar situations such as opioid misuse in the workplace.
- Educate employees. Let your employees know the risks of opioids. Help educate them about other options for managing pain: occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health treatment, acupuncture and massage.
- Draft a written policy. Your company’s legal department can assist with drafting a policy that addresses the use of prescribed opioids as well as the risks of opioid misuse in the workplace to help ensure employees are safe and healthy.
- Conduct supervisor training. Managers also need proper education and training about the resources available to help an employee who may be experiencing a personal or family problem involving opioids.
Help your employees so they can better deal with pain.
Encourage your employees who need help managing their pain to visit the patient section of this site. There, they’ll find:
- Information on what an opioid is and a list of commonly prescribed opioids.
- Helpful hints on developing a pain plan with their doctor.
- Alternatives to opioids for pain management.
Opioid Prescription Checker
Find out if your medication is an opioid.**
WORKPLACE STRATEGIES
There are plenty of strategies you can employ by partnering with your health plan and Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) to minimize the inappropriate use of prescription opioids. Here are some suggestions:
Health Plan
- Partner with your health plan to include alternatives to opioids on medication lists.
- Make sure your health plan has created plan networks with providers that are committed to reducing opioid use.
- Change benefit designs to encourage employees use of providers with opioid-reduction strategies.
Pharmacy Benefit Manager
- Work with your pharmacy benefit manager to approve only a limited supply of an opioid.
- Ensure Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines are adhered to for prescribing opioids.
- Use programs that require high-volume opioid users to work with a single physician and pharmacy for opioid approvals.