The opioid epidemic that is destroying individuals and families across the country also is threatening to shut down manufacturing plants and whole industries. Particularly affecting men ages 25 to 54, opioid use has become a key factor regarding why “prime age” workers are unwilling or unable to find work. Some American employers have reported that between 25% and 50% of qualified applicants can’t pass a routine drug test. Workers who abuse painkillers cost their companies double the medical costs of non-abusers and, across the county, it is estimated that employers lose $10 billion per year due to lost productivity and absenteeism due to drug abuse. In an effort to combat the destruction, the Trump administration launched the Presidential Opioid Commission and many companies are implementing programs to help get employees clean.
As Opioids Hit the Workforce, Employers are Forced to Improvise
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