Opioid abuse by 10 percent to 12 percent of workers in the U.S. costs employers about $12 billion annually. The impact of opioid abuse is even costlier for employers in industries like construction, trucking, and manufacturing. In many cases, turnover costs can be higher than employee rehabilitation. Attorney James Reidy suggests that HR offices monitor behaviors such as increased time-off and workplace accidents, and decreased productivity in order to stay aware of possible opioid abuse. HR professionals can also work with EMTs to obtain overdose response equipment and drugs like NARCAN. If signs of drug abuse do emerge within the workplace, HR should bring in a physician in addition to ordering a drug test.
See "Opioid Addiction at Work Major Challenge for Employers", Genevieve Douglas, Bloomberg BNA, March 14, 2017