144: Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic

Opioid use has drastically increased in recent years and its impact is felt on families, in communities, and on the economy. While it may be easy to stereotype what an opioid addict looks like, the truth is, if you really want to know what an opioid addict looks like, all you have to do is look around you. Opioids don’t discriminate.

On this episode, Renee West, Rea’s HR manager, joins us to talk about Ohio’s opioid epidemic and what employers can do to help combat this growing problem in our workforce. This isn’t an easy conversation – but it is important.

What exactly is an opioid and how bad is this epidemic?

There are two groups of opioids being abused today: prescription drugs like methadone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone and non-prescription drugs like fentanyl and heroin. The CDC reports that more than 350,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid between 1999 and 2016, including prescription and illicit opioids. But in 2016, the number of deaths involving opioids was 5x higher than in 1999 – and on average, about 46 people die of an overdose every day. It’s a colossal issue and it affects everyone, whether they know it or not.

If you want to see your local and business community improved, you will be interested in these other topics discussed in this episode:

• How the opioid epidemic affects employers.
• What resources are available for employers?
• A bill that passed in the House (H.R. 6) shifts opioid costs to employer plans.
• Preventative measures within Ohio.
  
  Want to learn more about what your organization can do to fight back against the opioid crisis? Read “Workforce In Crisis: The Opioid Epidemic And Its Impact On The American Workforce.”
  
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