Substance Use
Addressing substance use is a critical part of Total Worker Health®, both as injury prevention—substance use is unquestionably linked to injury-related accidents, particularly those involving driving—but also in terms of health promotion. But in today's world, society and workplaces are examining how we think and talk about substance use, especially given ongoing movements to legalize cannabis and other substances. At the same time, the ongoing drug overdose epidemic continues to be a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. This page offers resources for employers who want to learn more about substance use and workplace safety, how to support workers in their journeys towards recovery, and the changing landscape of substance use at work.
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Featured Resources
Marijuana and the Workplace: Introduction is a podcast from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest and the first of two about marijuana in the workplace. With more states choosing to alter marijuana laws and regulations despite federal laws, the discussion surrounding marijuana and the workplace is changing. How should businesses respond or not respond to these changes? This first episode focuses on educating employers about marijuana’s attributes, the litigation surrounding it, and how both of those relate to the health and safety of the workplace.
Marijuana and the Workplace: Policies is a companion to the earlier podcast from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest. In this episode the hosts look at what factors should be taken into account when revising or creating marijuana policies for a business. How should policies reflect or not reflect the changing litigation around marijuana, and what factors should be taken into account when making those decisions?
Cannabis in the Workplace: What Employers and Employees Need to Know is a 58-minute webinar from the Health Links™ program at the Center for Health, Work & Environment. In 2022, 19 states have legalized recreational cannabis and 35 have legalized medical consumption. Employers in states with legal cannabis continue to have many questions, including can we require pre-employment testing for cannabis? Which workers are more likely to use cannabis? And should we test workers for cannabis after a workplace accident or incident? Join national and local experts to learn more about cannabis use, testing, and workplace policy trends.
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Featured Resources
The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Center for Health, Work & Environment and the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. Their goal is to educate, train, and provide resources to help managers and individuals implement evidence-based workplace practices and support for employees in treatment and recovery. The Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative acknowledges the critical role employers hold in elevating the importance of mental health in the workplace and is dedicated to equipping them to address it. The toolkit for the program is available here.
Action Plan for Prevention and Recovery is a booklet from the Health Links® program at the Center for Health, Work & Environment designed to assist employees through recovery. The action plans for prevention and recovery described in this booklet were devised by people who experience emotional or psychiatric symptoms. They developed ways to deal with their need for structure in their lives that actively support their health. The plans are simple, low-cost, and can be changed and added to over time as you learn more and more. Anyone can develop and use these plans for any kind of health concern
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Featured Resources
Opioids Destructive Toll on the Workplace is a 3-minute video from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest. Center personnel sat down with industry experts that offer insightful statistics and ideas on how to mitigate the epidemic's toll on the workplace.
Opioid Drug Policy to Protect the Workplace is a 5-minute video from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest designed to inform employers about a variety of different methods that may help mitigate the negative toll prescription opioids have on the workplace.
Opioid Hazard Awareness - A Mine Safety and Health Administration Refresher Training Module for Stone, Sand & Gravel Workers is a free online training course from CPH-NEW for sand and gravel workers. This free innovative opioid hazard awareness training module comes in two forms: materials for traditional instructor-led training that includes PowerPoint Slides, a facilitators’ guide with slide-by-slide instructions, and a participant handout. The second format is a fully-narrated opioid hazard awareness training. Instructors can direct trainees to complete the module on their own, or it can be used in virtual or in-person training for groups. The module includes interactive questions to stimulate discussion.
Toolbox Talks are presented by the Center for Work, Health, & Well-being. These talks are designed for a facilitator to hold a session with interested employees and includes key points, questions for discussion, and resources to share afterwards.
Other Resources
Opioids: The Impact on the Workplace is a 56-minute webinar from Health Links® at the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest discussing the history of the opioid epidemic, the costs and impact on workplaces, and next steps that can be taken towards a healthier workplace.
