Nearly every issue of social change has eventually found its way into the workplace. Work is where, for example, Americans continue to wrestle with issues of discrimination and harassment, with a wide range of personal privacy issues, and with many of the most sensitive aspects of their health care (and how it is paid for). That premise continues to persist, as employers across the country struggle with the work-related aspects of the opioid crisis.

What Is the Opioid Crisis?

Opioids are medicines designed to relieve pain. They are also highly addictive, often induce a sense of euphoria and can trigger dangerous physical and behavioral changes. According to research by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly a third of Americans say they know someone who is or has been addicted to opioids or prescription painkillers.