Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit - National Safety Council

This toolkit includes sample policies, fact sheets, presentations, safety talks, posters, white papers, reports, videos and more, so you can implement a workplace program on opioids. These materials will help you understand how opioids impact the workplace, recognize signs of impairment, educate employees on the risks of opioid use, develop drug-related HR policies and support employees who are struggling with opioid misuse.

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The Basics

Human Resources

Safety Professionals

Supervisors

Employee Education

Other Resources

General Resources

Initiatives to Prevent Opioid Misuse and Promote Recovery Friendly Workplace Programs, developed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, highlights training, resources and initiatives developed by employers, unions, community-based organizations and government agencies to prevent opioid misuse and promote workplace recovery programs.
Injury Facts, produced by the National Safety Council, is the go-to source for injury and death statistics and their related costs.
Celebrating Lost Loved Ones, an NSC interactive map, allows users to place an image and description honoring loved ones lost to the opioid crisis. Help raise awareness about the broad impact of this epidemic.
Poison Control Centers offer free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day through the Poison Help Line, (800) 222-1222. This service provides a primary resource for poisoning and drug information, and helps reduce emergency department visits through in-home treatment.
Review the Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids report and accompanying materials, which includes an overview of the crisis, and prevention and treatment information.
The NSC white paper, Prescription Nation, offers a state-by-state comparison of six key actions taken to address the opioid epidemic. Includes background information and case studies.
Review this timeline to see the key steps NSC has taken towards eradicating the opioid epidemic.
This CDC resource provides opioid misuse prevention strategies targeted at public health professionals, law enforcement, local organizations and others serving their communities.
U.S. Department for Health and Human Services provides a national helpline, a treatment locator, and opioid specific facts and strategies to combat the crisis.

Drug-free Workplace

The NSC Substance Use Calculator provides business leaders with specific information about the cost of substance use in their workplace based on number of employees, industry and state.
The NSC report, Prescription Pain Medications: A Fatal Cure for Injured Workers, discusses promising workers’ compensation practices that can protect injured workers from the potential harm arising from opioid use.
National Drug-free Workplace Alliance provides drug-free workplace program resources, such as online training, consultation services and educational content.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a Drug-free Workplace Toolkit with information to help employers create and maintain drug-free workplace programs. This page also includes a Model Plan for a Comprehensive Drug-free Workplace Program for reference.
SAMHSA offers the EAP Prescription Drug Toolkit and Fact Sheets, which provide guidance related to counseling, referrals and follow-up services (e.g., alternatives to prescription drugs, workplace drug misuse and relapse prevention, dangers of combined drug use, screenings, and evaluations before returning to work).
This NSC report, The Proactive Role Employers Can Take, discusses current evidence surrounding opioid medications and their potential impact on the workplace.
NIOSH Workplace Solutions White Paper includes information on medications for addiction treatment and what employers can do to support treatment for workers with a substance use disorder.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides and assortment of resources for employers, such as workplace data and research, field investigations and educational tools.
Discovery Education and DEA tapped into the expertise of scientists, adult learning specialists and instructional designers to raise awareness and knowledge, specifically for adults, about the opioid epidemic. The result is a no-cost series of four self-paced, interactive modules, complete with a confidence rating assessment at the end of each module, giving employers the opportunity to empower their staff and strengthen their organization.

Treatment and Recovery

Capacitype focuses on recovery access and information primarily through its recovery resource locator map.
This SAMHSA handbook can help individuals looking for information on treatment for opioid use disorder, and it provides tools to aid the decision-making process.
SAMHSA lists substance misuse and mental health treatment providers by Zip Code and operates a 24/7 helpline for treatment referral and information.

Medication Safety

Pass out these labels in your workplace or community to encourage individuals to have a discussion with their medical providers about the risks of prescribed opioids and whether there are safer, effective alternatives.
Stericycle offers Seal&Send envelopes as a DEA-compliant solution to dispose of unused medication.
The Drug Enforcement Administration provides resources on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and a collection site locator tool for year-round disposal. You also can find take-back PSAs and other helpful drug disposal resources.
Protect Initiative brings together public health agencies, private sector companies, professional organizations, consumer/patient advocates and academic experts to develop strategies to keep children safe from unintentional medication overdoses.

Personal Testimonials

The NSC Prescribed to Death Memorial aims to increase awareness about the risks of prescription opioids.
Louie Miceli was prescribed painkillers after a sports injury. He eventually switched to heroin and died from an overdosed in 2012. His mother, Felicia, speaks on the dangers of opioids.
Bill was prescribed hydrocodone due to severe lower back pain, which he had lived with for most of his working life. His brother tells his story.
The NSC Prescribed to Death video examines how opioids have impacted families across the nation.
Millions of Americans are prescribed opioids each year. Rigo was one of them.

Educational Resources

The NSC Physician Speakers Bureau is composed of medical experts who specifically address and educate on opioid safety, addiction and treatment.
Share these CDC resources with employees; posters, videos, podcasts and more cover a variety of topics related to opioids, such as chronic pain, pregnancy and overdose.
This campaign includes a shareable video that targets parents of teens to prevent opioid misuse. It also provides strategies for parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of misusing drugs.
The Addictionary is a helpful tool to encourage destigmatized language surrounding addiction.
Learn the signs and symptoms of an overdose by watching this NSC video.
The CDC provides resources to help inform the general public about the caution needed if someone is considering taking opioids.
The Partnership for Drug Free Kids provides resources to help parents and caregivers address alcohol and drug misuse with their teens. This organization also provides a helpline.
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families. You'll find learning materials, advocacy events and other ways to get involved.

Begin Addressing Opioids in Your Organization

The Basics

Human Resources

Safety Professionals

Supervisors

Educational Materials

Employee Education

Documents

Videos

5-Minute Safety Talks

Posters

Information on Warn Me Labels

Educational Presentation