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Illicit drug use and the workplace
Illicit drug abuse in the American workplace contributes to higher health care costs and increased absenteeism.
Nonmedical use of prescription pain medication
Nonmedical use of prescription pain medication is a growing problem can affect the work place. Click to see the extent of this problem and what can be done to solve it.
Depression and Alcohol Screening May Benefit Employers
February 22, 2008Depression, one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S., has a debilitating effect on U.S companies which lose upwards of $44 billion per year due to employee depression. Because more than 57 percent of adults who experienced a major depressive episode in 2004 also used alcohol, addressing these issues when they appear as dual disorders may greatly benefit many U.S. workplaces.
Reimbursement Codes Change the Landscape of Substance Use Screening
February 22, 2008Alcohol and drug use contributes to injury and often complicates healthcare. The recent development of medical reimbursement codes for alcohol and substance use assessment and brief intervention may help primary care providers, trauma professionals, and behavioral health counselors more readily establish alcohol and drug screening as routine practice.
War Veterans Could Benefit from Screening for Stress and Alcohol Problems
November 28, 2007Soldiers returning to the U.S. from war zones may initially report few problems, but as time passes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol problems and a host of other mental health issues could become serious concerns for returning soldiers, their families and their employers.
Online Screening Tools Protect Employee Privacy, Help Resolve Problems
November 12, 2007Online screening tools provide a low-cost, non-intrusive means to encourage employees to engage in healthy behaviors and seek help when necessary. Employers who encourage the use of effective online screening tools can achieve reductions in healthcare expenses and improvements in workplace productivity.
Changes on the Horizon for Treating Alcohol-Related Problems
July 23, 2007New alcohol treatment approaches including screening and brief interventions, new medications for treating alcohol dependence, and new medical procedural codes promise to transform the way that managed care organizations and other health care entities treat alcohol use disorders.
Study Shows Most Employed Substance Users Abuse Alcohol
July 19, 2007A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finds that more heavy alcohol users are employed full-time than illicit drug users. Employers can help ensure safe, healthy and productive work settings by being sure to incorporate alcohol screening and brief interventions into their drug-free workplace policies.
Ensuring Solutions Testifies Before House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health
April 04, 2007On Tuesday, March 27, 2007, Eric Goplerud, PhD, Director of Ensuring Solutions, testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health about mental health and substance abuse parity for Medicare beneficiaries.
Addiction Documentary Series Bolsters Community Action Efforts
March 26, 2007HBO's documentary series, ADDICTION, works with advocacy agencies to make resources available for community education and understanding.
Pre-Employment Testing is a Questionable Business Expense
March 26, 2007Employers can do more than require pre-employment drug tests in order to control for employee drug abuse. Alcohol screening and brief intervention offers a proven strategy to reduce problem drinking, improve employee morale, and increase return on investment.
FDA Calls for Stronger Warning Labels on Over-the-Counter Medication
December 22, 2006The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed stronger warning labels for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen.
Approximately 200,000 Americans are hospitalized every year due to adverse reactions to these drugs. In many cases, the culprit is the interaction of painkillers and alcohol.
To learn more about the potential for harm when painkillers and alcohol are combined, read "How Alcohol Complicates Medication Use."
Two Birds with One Stone
December 15, 2006The drinking issues of 18- to 24-year-old employees can easily spill into the workplace – leading to injuries, high rates of hospital and emergency room use, conflict on the job and reduced productivity. What’s more, binge or heavy drinking at this age can lead to alcoholism, a costly drain on an employers’ healthcare budget. Two-fifths of young working people in this age group engage in binge drinking, the federal government has found, and nearly a fifth are heavy drinkers.
Tips for Safe and Sober Workplace Holiday Parties
December 08, 2006Keep your employees safe and while enjoying the holidays with some sober tips about office holiday parties.
Baylor University Helps Substance-Using Employees
September 27, 2006When it comes to addressing problems with alcohol, drugs and tobacco, leaders at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston strive for offering the finest in care - even to employees.
New Alcohol Cost Calculator for Health Plans Available
September 25, 2006Out of every 10,000 health plan beneficiaries, more than 700 are likely to have an alcohol problem. Left untreated, these beneficiaries will increase costs by more than $1 million every year. The new Alcohol Cost Calculator for Health Plans estimates the impact on your health plan.
Employer Commitment Can Help Overcome Obstacles to Effective Alcohol Treatment
September 25, 2006Communities, employers, families and individuals forfeit critical opportunities when an employee or family member cannot get alcohol treatment. Expanding access to treatment, however, can make a world of difference. A unique partnership between Shell Oil and the health company ValueOptions addresses hurdles faced by problem drinkers.
Survey Says Binge Still a Problem
September 25, 2006The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the 2005 data for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Unfortunately little attention is paid to the problematic alcohol use by adults. The newest data demonstrates binge and heavy drinking is still prevalent throughout the population with little to no change from previous years, and those that need treatment aren't getting it.
Early Drinking Increases Risk for Alcohol Dependence
September 26, 2006People who start drinking before the age of 14 are more likely to become alcoholics than those who abstain from alcohol until they're 21 and are more likely to become dependent on alcohol faster according to recent study.
Alcohol News Round Up
June 13, 2006Alcohol and Drug Abuse Cost Alaskan Employers $367 Million in Lost Productivity
June 13, 2006New Research May Provide Insight to Alcohol Abuse and Nicotine Addiction
June 13, 2006Brief Intervention Prevents Drinking and Driving Behavior
June 13, 2006Alcohol Treatment More Valuable Than Wireless Email Devices
November 22, 2005Mining Workers Have Higher Rate of Alcohol Problems
November 22, 2005Better Mental Health, Substance-Use Treatment Key to Improving Care System
November 22, 2005Hangovers Have Costly Effects in the Workplace
November 22, 2005Construction Tops List of Industries with Problem Drinking
September 20, 2005Alcohol Problems Underdiagnosed by Health Plans
September 20, 2005How to Hire an Employee Assistance Provider
September 20, 2005Hurricanes, Iraq War Increase Risk of Alcohol Problems
September 20, 2005What Employers Can Do About Alcohol Problems
September 20, 2005[view archived Articles]