NIOSH Responds to the U.S. Drug Overdose Epidemic

Abstract

The United States is experiencing an evolving and worsening drug overdose epidemic. Although the rate of drug use among workers has remained relatively stable, the risk of overdose and death among drug users has not, as illicit drugs have increased in potency and lethality. The cumulative impacts of COVID-19 and the opioid crisis increase the likelihood of illness and death among workers with opioid use disorder. Workplaces represent a critical point of contact for people living in the United States who are struggling with or recovering from a substance use disorder, and employment is a vital source of recovery “capital.” The benefits of addressing substance use in the workplace, supporting treatment, and employing workers in recovery are evident. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has published research to inform policy and practice toward prevention efforts and has developed accessible resources and toolkits to support workers, employers, and workplaces in combatting the opioid overdose crisis and creating safer, healthier communities.

Keywords

drug overdose opioids recovery worker safety and health total worker health

Introduction: Substance Use and Work

The United States is in the midst of an evolving and worsening drug overdose epidemic. There were 70,630 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2019,¹ and nearly 50,000 of those deaths involved opioids.² This translates to 136 people in the United States dying each day from opioid overdose. Drug overdose deaths increased almost 5% just from 2018 to 2019, and a growing proportion of overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids other than methadone, including illicitly manufactured fentanyl.² Although data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that rates of opioid misuse and use disorder have remained relatively stable over time, the increasing potency and lethality of illicit drugs on the market has likely led to more and more lives lost to overdose.³ These stark trends are playing out similarly among workers and in workplaces across the nation. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 63.0% of self-reported past-year illicit opioid users aged 18 and up were employed full- or part-time.⁴ In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that overdose deaths at work from non-medical use of drugs or alcohol increased for the seventh year in a row to 313, with workplace overdose deaths accounting for nearly 6% of occupational injury deaths that year.⁵

The overdose epidemic is having disparate impacts across the work force. Morano et al.⁶ found that physically demanding industries with difficult working conditions and high rates of injury may be associated with a higher risk for overdose. Work-related pain and injury may contribute to first exposure to opioids through a prescription and may lead to the initiation of opioid misuse and perpetuation of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD). Construction and extraction (mining, oil, gas) occupations have some of the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths.⁶ Other job factors, such as high job demands, job insecurity, and lack of control over job tasks may also lead to opioid misuse.^7,8

Although the rate of drug use among workers has remained relatively stable, the risk of overdose and death among drug users has not, as illicit drugs have increased in potency and lethality.⁹ In recent years, the surge in overdose deaths has been primarily driven by synthetic opioids, such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl (see Figure 1).² Synthetic opioids are extremely potent and commonly present in the illicit drug supply across the United States, including in mixtures with other drugs. Although co-use of synthetic opioids with other drugs can be deliberate, individuals may also unknowingly and inadvertently consume products adulterated with illicitly manufactured fentanyl or fentanyl analogs (see Figure 2). Deaths involving psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine, are also rising, likely due to similar increases in potency, availability, and reduced cost. The largest increases in synthetic opioid deaths have occurred in western states, whereas historically, deaths have been concentrated in eastern states, representing a shift from a predominantly white powder heroin market in the east to increasingly available illicitly manufactured fentanyl in the west.

Figure 1.

Overdose death rates involving opioids, by type, United States, 1999–2019.

Figure 2.

Age-adjusted rates of drug overdose deaths^a involving prescription opioids,^b heroin,^c cocaine,^d and psychostimulants with abuse potential,^e with (a) and without (b) synthetic opioids other than methadone^f,g—United States, 2013–2019.

COVID-19 and Opioid Overdose: A “Perfect Storm”?

The United States was already experiencing a deadly opioid overdose epidemic when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. The co-occurrence of these alarming and fatal public health crises has created what some have called “the perfect storm for folks who are substance dependent.”¹⁰ Nearly every state in the country has reported increases in opioid-related mortality since the start of the pandemic¹¹ (see Figure 3), and the SAMHSA disaster distress helpline reported an exponential increase in calls in 2020 compared to the same period the year prior.¹²

Figure 3.

Twelve-month provisional (a) drug overdose death counts for all drugs (b), synthetic opioids (c), cocaine (d), and psychostimulants (e), for fifty states, the District of Columbia, and New York City: twelve months ending in June 2019 to twelve months ending in May 2020 (f).

The cumulative impacts of COVID-19 and the opioid crisis increase the likelihood of illness and death among workers struggling with OUD.¹³ Individuals with OUD face unique barriers that may put them at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. They may be more likely to lack health knowledge,¹⁴ access to harm-reduction services,¹⁴ and reliable Internet service to access information about the pandemic.¹⁵ Individuals with OUD may also have difficulty accessing provisions needed for safely sheltering in place.¹⁵ The harmful impacts that opioids can have on lung and heart health,¹⁶ coupled with a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and tobacco use,¹⁷ may also put people with OUD at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Furthermore, individuals with SUDs are often stigmatized and underserved in healthcare settings, which may be exacerbated when hospitals and clinics are pushed to capacity with COVID-19 cases.¹⁶

Measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and business closures, may inadvertently increase harms related to OUD.¹³ Temporary closures of treatment clinics and disruptions to harm reduction programs may lead to increased sharing and re-using of drug-use equipment, increasing the risk of COVID-19 and other transmissible diseases.^18,19 Pandemic measures have created a scarcity of healthcare resources, including access to medications for OUD.²⁰ Economic and social disruptions, like job losses and border crossing restrictions, may reduce access to the usual drug supply and lead to more harmful drug use patterns and greater exposure to more dangerous drugs.^15,18,19 Social distancing may lead to isolation and inadvertently conceal a surge of opioid misuse and mental health issues.²¹ The choice to practice social distancing represents a difficult tradeoff between reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure and potentially increasing the risk of overdosing alone with less opportunity for bystander administration of life-saving naloxone in the case of an overdose.^13,15,18,22

Once the COVID-19 pandemic ends, whenever that may be and whatever that will look like, the challenges and implications for workers with SUDs will remain. Workplaces represent a critical point of contact for Americans struggling with or recovering from an SUD, and employment is a vital source of recovery “capital.” Recovery capital is defined by Cloud and Granfield as, “the breadth and depth of internal and external resources that can be drawn upon to initiate and sustain recovery from severe AOD [alcohol and other drug] problems.”^23,24 Recovery capital derived from employment can include access to health and financial benefits, vocational skills, a sense of purpose and self-efficacy, and social connection.

Opioid Misuse, Use Disorder, and Overdose: Workplace Impacts and Opportunities

As trends shift across the United States, the opioid crisis continues and worsens, and it is evident in workplaces as well. A National Safety Council (NSC) survey²⁵ found that while 75% of employers report that opioid use has impacted their workplace, only 17% report being extremely well-prepared to address the issue, revealing an urgent need for workplace resources. Furthermore, only four in ten employers would return an employee to work after the employee receives treatment for misusing prescription opioids, even though workers in recovery have been shown to be productive employees. For example, according to another study from NSC,²⁶ workers in recovery take eight days off annually compared to the nearly twelve days off taken by workers without SUDs. Workers in recovery also tend to stay in jobs longer, miss fewer days of work, are less likely to be hospitalized, and have fewer primary care visits. By employing workers in recovery, employers may avoid more than $8000 annually in turnover, replacement, and healthcare costs. The benefits of addressing substance use in the workplace, supporting treatment, and employing workers in recovery are evident.

NIOSH Resources to Address Substance Misuse, SUDs, and Overdose

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, with a mission²⁷ to empower employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces and a mandate to assure “every man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.” Opioid misuse and overdose and the impact on occupational safety and health is a critical component of the NIOSH strategic plan and program portfolio. The four-pronged NIOSH approach²⁸ (see Figure 4) to combatting opioid harms includes determining the antecedent factors for opioid over-utilization among workers; identifying opioid use conditions that affect workers; developing strategies for protecting and assisting workers involved in the opioid crisis response; and developing methods for opioid detection and decontamination of workplaces. In implementing this framework, NIOSH obtains relevant data to characterize and address the opioid crisis in workers; conducts field investigations, exposure surveys, and research studies to determine the extent of opioid exposures and best approaches to prevention; develops information and knowledge to address the problem; and transfers knowledge to all stakeholders and agencies to promote effective interventions.

Figure 4.

Opioids in the workplace: NIOSH framework.²⁵

Opioid misuse and overdose are issues broadly impacting workplaces, from the worker to the worker’s co-workers, staff, family, and community. As the lines between those environments have been drastically blurred in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to use a coordinated systems approach to meet the needs of employers and workers. NIOSH applies Total Worker Health® principles and strategies to combat opioid harms, which involves the integration of protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.²⁹ NIOSH has published research to inform policy and practice toward prevention efforts and has developed accessible resources and toolkits to support workers, employers, and workplaces in combatting the opioid crisis and creating safer, healthier communities. These resources include information on naloxone administration to reverse opioid overdose, how to keep first responders to an overdose scene safe, and supporting treatment and recovery in the workplace.

Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose

Naloxone hydrochloride (also known as naloxone, NARCAN® or EVZIO®) is a drug that can temporarily stop many of the life-threatening effects of overdoses from opioids. It can be given nasally to a person suspected of overdose, allowing trained lay persons to administer the drug without injection. By helping to restore breathing and reverse sedation and unconsciousness, timely administration of naloxone can save the life of a worker or member of the public who has overdosed on opioids at a workplace. NIOSH has developed a fact sheet³⁰ titled “Using Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose in the Workplace,” which can help employers and workers understand the risk of opioid overdose and provides guidance to help them decide if they should establish a workplace naloxone availability and use program.

Illicit Drugs and Keeping First Responders Safe

Naloxone is effective for reversing overdoses from opioids, including the powerful synthetic drug fentanyl. Fentanyl (including illicitly manufactured fentanyl), similar to morphine, is a synthetic opioid, and it can be up to 100 times more potent and potentially more fatal than morphine and heroin due to its suppression of the central nervous system and respiratory function.^9,31 NIOSH identified emergency responders³² and healthcare workers,³³ as well as other personnel in hospital and clinic settings, as at-risk groups for exposure. Guidance has been developed and tailored for these groups and contains standard operating procedures, training, personal protective equipment, and other relevant information for preventing occupational exposure to fentanyl and its analogs. An additional illicit drug toolkit³⁴ has been developed to provide accessible resources, including infographics and postcards, to help first responders protect themselves from illicit drug exposure. NIOSH also conducts Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs),³⁵ which serve as field investigations to help employees, unions, and employers (at no cost) learn whether health hazards are present at their workplace and recommend ways to reduce hazards and prevent work-related illness. Several HHEs have assessed occupational exposures to illicit drugs among first responders and emergency personnel.

Medication-Assisted Treatment and Return to Work

For workers struggling with opioid misuse or opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), also known as medication-based treatment (MBT) or medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), can be an integral part of treatment and recovery. Definitive treatment is an essential part of the long-term solution to SUD, and MAT is the gold standard. Employment and return to work (RTW) strategies are critical, and MAT contributes to more stable, long-term employability. NIOSH has developed a Workplace Solutions document³⁶ which provides information for employers wishing to assist or support workers with OUD, describes current treatments, and provides a multi-step set of information on creating a workplace atmosphere that focuses on prevention, opioid misuse minimization, decreasing stigma, and supporting people with SUD through treatment and back to work.

Workplace Supported Recovery

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Statement of Drug Policy Priorities for Year One³⁷ encourages the development and adoption of peer recovery support services and recovery-ready workplace models. NIOSH has developed an initiative called Workplace Supported Recovery³⁸ to describe and support workplace efforts to prevent substance misuse, address SUDs, and support worker recovery and well-being. In a Workplace Supported Recovery (WSR) program, employers use evidence-based policies and programs to help prevent initial substance use, decrease the risk for substance misuse and its progression to an SUD, help workers who are struggling seek the care they need, and provide assistance in recovery. This is consistent with the broad perspective of the NIOSH Total Worker Health^® Program,²⁹ promoting a culture of ongoing support for any issues that workers may face, whether on the job or away from work. Comprehensive Workplace Supported Recovery programs applying the Total Worker Health^® approach focus on:

preventing work-related injuries and illnesses that could lead to the initiation of substance misuse and decreasing difficult working conditions or work demands that might lead to daily or recurrent pain;

promoting the use of alternatives to opioids for pain relief associated with a workplace injury or illness with the goal of preventing the initiation of substance misuse;

providing information and access to care for an SUD when it is needed, including access to medication-based or medication-assisted treatment together with individual counseling;

developing return-to-work plans and supporting second chance employment;

providing workplace accommodations and other return to work assistance; and

providing peer support and peer coaching to bolster the social supports available to workers in recovery.

Employment itself is a crucial component for recovery. Being employed provides workers with critical sources of recovery capital that can motivate and maintain a desire for treatment and recovery, including but not limited to: economic stability, a meaningful social role, and often direct access to treatment and recovery services. The aim of a recovery-supportive employer is to preserve employment for those with an SUD and provide second-chance employment for recovering individuals. It will be critical to keep this all under consideration in light of the job loss and increase in drug use³⁹ that has been seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An ideal recovery-supportive workplace understands the nature of SUDs and recovery, as well as the factors that support the initiation of treatment and maintenance of recovery, with the intent of reducing stigma at work. It encourages employees to seek treatment and initiate recovery early in their disorder and provides access to evidence-based supportive resources for treatment and recovery. On the Workplace Supported Recovery webpage, NIOSH outlines specific considerations and activities for workplaces aiming to support workers with SUDs, with a particular emphasis on the importance of stigma reduction. Individuals with a SUD, as well as those in recovery, may experience extreme levels of stigmatization. This can lead to prejudice, discrimination, social exclusion, and limited opportunities to participate fully in employment and other life roles. Visible and accessible educational materials, as well as consistent discussions of the actual nature of SUDs, treatment, and recovery, may help reduce stigma and encourage entry into treatment and recovery. Materials and discussions should emphasize that an SUD is an illness, not a moral failing, and recovery is possible. Workplaces can engage in the following activities to help reduce stigma in the workplace and create a safe atmosphere to encourage conversation around substance misuse, treatment, and recovery:

provide training to managers and workers to overcome misunderstanding and bias against individuals with an SUD;

adopt health-promoting policies in the workplace to raise awareness and support workers and their family members struggling with an SUD;

eliminate imprecise and pejorative terms from workplace language and instead adopt language that reflects a health perspective and is consistent with terms used to describe other health conditions (e.g., “person with SUD”); and

ensure that all substance use policies are informed by science and supported by data.

Workplace Supported Recovery programs are not a one-size-fits-all approach to supporting workers in treatment and/or recovery from a SUD. Risk analysis is a critical piece of evaluating job roles in the context of any health challenges faced by the worker occupying the role. Workers along the arc of recovery may require customized approaches to employment and Workplace Supported Recovery, particularly those with safety-sensitive jobs. Qualified occupational healthcare providers can help make case-by-case determinations about specific and necessary restrictions or job limits, and reasonable accommodations should be considered and implemented by the employer when appropriate.

The basic tenets of Workplace Supported Recovery—education, support, provision of resources, stigma reduction—can be applied to other occupational safety and health concerns, such as supporting worker mental health. As we move forward in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with evolving work arrangements, increasing occupational stress, and a blurring of the lines between home and work environments, Workplace Supported Recovery resources will be tailored to meet employers and workers where they’re at. NIOSH also acknowledges the need for and will pursue additional ongoing research surrounding work, impairment, and treatment for workers along the arc of recovery.

Conclusion: Prevention Is Critical, Recovery Is Possible

Certain aspects of work, like work injury or working conditions that lead to stress or pain, may predispose a worker to initiate use of opioids, and a small number may misuse opioids or develop an OUD. Yet the workplace can also represent a critical point of support and a source of recovery capital for workers seeking treatment and pursuing sustained recovery. Like any other chronic disease, OUD is treatable and manageable, and recovery is possible. Employers and workplaces have a unique opportunity to combat the opioid crisis by focusing on prevention, actively reducing stigma, providing information and resources, and lowering the barriers for employees seeking care and support.

Footnotes

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

ORCID iD

Jamie C. Osborne

Author Biographies

Jamie C. Osborne, MPH, CHES®, is a Public Health Analyst with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Atlanta, GA. Osborne works with the Office for Total Worker Health® on issues surrounding substance use, impairment, and recovery.

L. Casey Chosewood, MD, MPH, is the Director of the Office for Total Worker Health® at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In this role, Chosewood is dedicated to improving the health, safety, and well-being of workers both on and off the job.

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