Mental Health
Co-occurring disorders are very common in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). A co-occurring disorder refers to the condition in which an individual has a co-existing mental illness and SUD. More than half of those who have SUD also have mental health issues. Stigma surrounding SUD and mental illness should be erased, and recovery should be supported in the workplace. There is always room for improvement within an organization. Why not start by empowering employees to create a recovery-friendly culture in the company regarding SUD and mental health?
There are various steps that individuals who suffer from a mental illness can take to improve their mental health. Please view the Mental Health One Pager below. This can be printed and given to employees to help improve their mental well-being.
Stigma
In our society, when an individual receives a diagnosis of cancer, we contact a medical team and discuss a plan of treatment. It is a different scenario when an individual receives a diagnosis of a mental health illness. These individuals are not encouraged to share the diagnosis and suffer silently due to the stigma surrounding this illness.
For individuals to overcome the badge that is carried with stigma, organizational leaders should take empathic actions in support of these individuals and to create a de-stigmatizing culture. In creating an environment free from stigma, organizations should recognize the importance of the language used and the respect level of each team member and should encourage open and honest conversations.
To end the silence that supports the stigma, organizations should be a champion at learning, understanding and educating about the challenges created by substance use disorder and mental health. Raising awareness of stigma and its existence will increase acceptance of people who struggle with these illnesses. Break the silence and reduce or eliminate the stigma in your organizational culture.
Potential Drugs of Abuse
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines abuse as: put to a wrong or improper use or improper or excessive use. There are a number of illegal and prescription drugs that have the potential for abuse. When drugs are abused, they can affect an individual in various ways and lead to drug dependence and addiction.
Addiction or substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal medication. SUD is characterized by drug seeking, a compulsive use of drugs and difficulty controlling the use of drugs despite harmful consequences. The chronic disease does not discriminate; it can happen to anyone, and no one is immune.
It is estimated that one in seven people in the United States will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives. (Stahre et al., 2014). Changing the way we think about SUD and reducing the stigma surrounding the topic is needed throughout our society, and this includes the workplace. Well- supported evidence suggests that 75% of adults with SUD are active in the workforce. So, how does that affect your organization? When someone in your workforce suffers from SUD and is actively using, you could see the impact on your bottom line. Absenteeism increases and productivity decreases, and this costs your company financially.
What actions are needed? It has been shown that employers who work with employees throughout treatment to achieve recovery are likely to see a high return on their investment. Studies show that supporting employees in recovery has a positive impact in the workplace. An organization can avoid substantial costs when assisting employees with treatment. Individuals in recovery miss less work and change their place of employment less often than the general workforce. Now is the time to take action in the workplace and create a recovery friendly culture and reduce the stigma surrounding SUD.
What are the prescription medications and illegal drugs that could affect your workforce?
View a brief overview of various drugs of abuse published by SAMSHA.
Steps for Completing a Reasonable Observation Checklist
Both observers should document their observations, including any abnormal behaviors. Be as specific as possible in descriptions but do not diagnose the situation.
After the documentation is complete, managers or HR staff need to review the checklist and information to determine how to proceed. If both observers witness behaviors that create suspicion of substance abuse and the documentation supports this suspicion, the employee may be sent for a drug test if it complies with the Company’s drug or alcohol testing policy. If there is disagreement, managers or HR may need to bring in a third party to observe and assist in making a determination. Managers or HR may decide that a reasonable suspicion of use of drugs or alcohol does not exist and that no further action is necessary.
If it is determined that testing is warranted, management and HR should meet with the employee to explain what has been observed and documented. To rule out the possibility that the employee is in violation of the company’s drug and alcohol policy, the Company will send the employee for a drug or alcohol test. The employee should then complete a drug testing consent form.
HR or management should arrange for transportation to the testing facility for the employee. The employee should not be permitted to drive to the testing facility on their own.
Naloxone
Naloxone (Narcan) is a nonscheduled medication known as an opioid antagonist that helps reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone will not reverse an overdose resulting from non-opioid drugs (for example: cocaine, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, etc.).
Naloxone is used to counteract the life-threatening depression of the central nervous and respiratory systems, allowing the victim to breathe normally.
Naloxone can be administered by emergency personnel and trained individuals. This medication can be injected into a vein or muscle, under the skin or sprayed into the nose. There is no potential for abuse with this medication. Naloxone is a safe medication that has no effect or side effects when administered to an individual who is not under the influence of opioids.
All team members in the organization who will be administering Naloxone should be properly trained.
