Written by Sally Spencer-Thomas
What is the most concerning substance
abuse trend facing workplaces today? Is it meth? Heroin? Cocaine? When we look
at who is showing up in our emergency rooms after overdosing and who is showing
up at addiction treatment centers, the drugs that are affecting the working
aged population most are the drugs we usually get with a prescription.
What is prescription drug abuse? Prescription drug abuse is the non-medical use of prescription medications. Prescription
medications are only safe for the prescribed patient, for the prescribed
reason, for a prescribed time. After they have been used for their intended
purpose, they should be safely discarded, and yet many stockpile and share these
potentially deadly and addicting medications, leaving them readily accessible
for abusive purposes.
For example, OxyContin, which is
essentially the same drug as heroin, is often prescribed for pain relief after
major surgery. This toxicity of this medication is perceived quite differently
when it comes in a prescription pill bottle from the medicine cabinet, and yet
the body doesn’t know the difference between this pill and its illicit cousin
heroin. The common perception is that these prescription drugs are safe because
they come from a doctor rather than off the street. Yet, the consequences of
abuse can be just as deadly. When
we look at national overdose deaths, we find that prescription drug abuse
deaths are:[1]
·
Four
to five times higher than those of black tar heroin in the 1970s
·
Twice
as high as the peak years of crack cocaine in the 1990s
More people are dying each year from prescription drug
overdoses than from heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. In 2005 there were 22,400 prescription
drug overdose deaths in the United States versus 17,000 homicides.
The alarming trend in prescription drug abuse poses a dilemma
for doctors. Chronic and severe pain is often best managed with narcotic based
medicine until the source of the pain has healed. Very often drug-seeking
patients will show up at their primary care clinic complaining of dental or
injury pain and will claim they “just need something to get them through the
weekend.” Since pain is so subjective, prescribing healthcare providers are
often unsure about how to handle such situations and may err on the side of
relieving the symptoms the best way they know how.
Sometimes workers who had legitimate
pain medication prescriptions find themselves hooked and will “doctor shop” to
get additional refills to support their addiction. Other overwhelmed
overachievers may turn to prescription drugs for an edge in our highly
competitive society. It is not uncommon for Mom or Dad to sneak stimulant pills
prescribed for their teen’s Attention Deficit Disorder so that the parent can
work longer hours.
The impact of prescription drug abuse on the
workplace is evident. Because these pills are usually paid for through
insurance, the healthcare costs for workplaces are affected when the drugs are
being abused. Performance is impacted when workers are operating under the
influence of narcotics, but unlike the abuse of other substances, prescription
drug abuse often leaves little evidence: no smell, no paraphernalia, and no
visible marks on the skin. Workers can abuse the drugs right at their desks
without others noticing.
With all these pills around, the
opportunities for intentional and unintentional overdoses increase
significantly. Emergency room monitoring shows an upward trend of people
experiencing medical crises from these effects.[1]
Given these health risks and workplace implications what can employers do?
Like other health issues, the best
intervention is early detection. Thus, workplaces can raise awareness by
educating employees about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and offer
screening to identify those at risk for abuse. Workplaces can help promote
events like the Colorado Department of Public Health’s “Take Back” challenges
where people can bring in unused prescription medications and dispose of them
safely. When writing policies regarding substance abuse, prescription drug
abuse should be included. Whatever the approach, workplaces that acknowledge
the potential risks of prescription drug abuse will be better able to
proactively work to reduce its impact.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank
Beverly Gmerek from Peer Assistance for her leadership in the area of
prescription drug abuse prevention and for the information presented at the May
14th, 2010 Colorado EAPA meeting which was used for the basis of
this article.
About the Author
As a psychologist and the
survivor of her brother’s suicide, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas addresses the issue
of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention from many angles. Currently she is the Executive Director
for the Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org), a Colorado-based
(USA) nonprofit that is dedicated to “sustaining a passion for life” through
suicide prevention, social enterprise and support for emerging leaders.” In
2009, the Carson J Spencer Foundation launched the Working Minds Program (www.WorkingMinds.org), a comprehensive
suicide prevention initiative for workplaces. As a professional speaker, she frequently presents keynotes
and trainings for workplaces, campuses, and conferences around the world. In
addition, she is the Executive Secretary for the National Action Alliance for
Suicide Prevention, the public-private partnership advancing the Surgeon
General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Finally, she is the
Division Chair for Survivors of Suicide Loss for the American Association of
Suicidology.
[1] Gmerek, Beverly (2010, May 14). Prescription Drug
Abuse. Presentation at the Colorado EAP Meeting. Denver, Colorado
[2] Gmerek, Beverly (2010, May 14). Prescription Drug
Abuse. Presentation at the Colorado EAP Meeting. Denver, Colorado