Rising rate of harm from alcohol use

April 26, 2024

Source: Esser, et al CDC, February 29, 2024 LINK   

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and employers should be aware of the toll of alcohol use disorder, and what they can do about it. About 10% of those ages 12 and older have Alcohol Use Disorder, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in February that rates of death related to alcohol use climbed substantially from 2016 to 2021. We don’t know if this increase is pandemic-related, or if it will recede in coming years. 

Alcohol use disorder is associated with tens of billions in excess medical costs and lost productivity each year in the US.

Source: Esser, et al CDC, February 29, 2024 LINK   Deaths from each of these are causes are attributed to alcohol use – not due to these causes without alcohol use.

About a third of states have some kind of Recovery Friendly Workplace programs, which can include outreach, education and training, recovery friendly workplace certification, reform of punitive workplace policies, and improved access to treatment and recovery resources. Some states provide funding and training for employers to develop recovery friendly workplaces.

Implications for employers:

-        Employers can help employees with alcohol use disorder by offering access to counseling and substance use treatment in their medical plan and their employee assistance program.

-        Alcohol use disorder in family members can also take a terrible toll on employees, and access to care can help diminish this burden.

-        Employers can provide ongoing substance use education to workers, supervisors, and managers. Supervisors should be alert to warning signs of substance use and refer employees and family members to the employee assistance program.

-        Decreasing stigma and misunderstanding can help more employees and members get help.

-        Employers can identify and address risk factors in the workplace that can lead to initiation of new cases of addiction.

-        Here is a Department of Labor Recovery Ready Workplace Resource Hub for prevention and mitigation efforts.

Thanks for reading.  You can find previous posts in the Employer Coverage archive

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