Survey Demonstrates Gaps, Opportunities to Address Substance Use, Opioids and Overdose in the Workplace

When NSC launched the Respond Ready Workplace Program last year, we wanted to better understand the landscape of naloxone* in workplaces, attitudes toward substance use and to identify opportunities for workplaces to respond to opioid overdose emergencies. In January 2024, NSC surveyed more than 500 employers and 800 employees across all industries. In analyzing the survey responses, the main theme that emerged was disconnection – between awareness and adoption, community and workplace, use and safety, and support and stigma. However, it is within these gaps that we also find opportunities for creating meaningful impact and positive change. Below are some of the key findings. 

Awareness and Adoption: Naloxone awareness is high, but not necessarily adoption. We found that 85% of employers and 78% of employees are aware of naloxone. While we view this as a positive step in addressing the opioid overdose crisis in workplaces, the survey responses highlight possible gaps between knowledge, awareness and availability. 

“An overdose can be addressed faster than waiting on an ambulance. Naloxone enables us to serve the immediate community if needed.” – Surveyed Employer

For example, the survey revealed that while 30% of employees said their workplace had naloxone onsite, nearly half (46%) of employees in workplaces without naloxone onsite do not expect their workplace will begin stocking it. And while most respondents (89%) said their workplace had first aid kits, just 43% of employers and 30% of employees said their workplaces had an opioid overdose response kit. 

Support and Stigma: While we’d like to see this answer at 100%, a positive 77% of employers and 80% of employees agreed substance use (as defined in the survey) is a chronic medical condition warranting treatment and support. However, when it came to awareness of some ways workplaces could support workers, few knew about recovery supportive (recovery ready/recovery friendly) practices; just 42% of employers and only 28% of employees were aware of them. 

“Naloxone has decreased opioid overdoses in my community drastically and I know it would benefit us because it would not only protect our employees from an overdose, but could also help a civilian near our jobsite that may be having an overdose. We work in populated areas and have seen drug use near our worksites on several occasions.” – Surveyed Employee

Other significant differences: Respondents whose workplaces had experience with overdose and recovery supportive policies were more likely than respondents whose workplaces had not had these experiences to be concerned about overdose and being ready to respond. 

Employers that had experienced an overdose in their workplace were more likely to: 

● Be concerned that opioids were impacting their workplace 

● Be concerned about an overdose in their workplace

● Stock naloxone 

Employers that had adopted recovery supportive policies were more likely to:

● Be concerned about opioid use impacting the workplace

● Be concerned about an overdose in the workplace and other wellbeing-related risks impacting the workplace (including cannabis, fatigue and other substance use)

● Be concerned that substance use was harming the safety of their workplace 

Employees with personal experience related to substance use disorder (SUD) were more likely to agree that substance use is: 

● A problem in workplaces across the country, a problem in their community and a problem in their workplace

● Harming the safety of their workplace

● Lowering productivity at their workplace

● Decreasing morale at their workplace

● Causing more near-misses or injuries

Opportunities 

Awareness to action: As we increase awareness and knowledge of opioids, naloxone and their impact on workplaces, more opportunities to help workplaces implement an opioid overdose response program exist. Full survey results along with an infographic of key findings are available at nsc.org/respondready. 

* Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication that temporarily stops opioids from interfering in the brain, allowing a person to breathe normally again. Naloxone is safe and effective and will not harm a person who is not having an opioid overdose.