Washington — Employees in or seeking recovery from a substance use disorder and/or mental health disorder are the focus of a new wellness resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The issue brief describes the characteristics of a recovery-ready workplaces and why they’re important. Characteristics include the ability to help workers with substance use or mental health conditions seek assistance.
SAMHSA adds that recovery-ready workplaces help reduce stigma, provide support for families and caregivers, and make harm-reduction supplies and services – such as naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) and training on how to use it – available onsite.
The resource offers information to help make a business case for recovery-ready policies, stating that benefits include:
- An expanded available labor force
- Increased worker well-being
- Decreased turnover
- Improved productivity
- Reduced health care costs
The issue brief also addresses the role states and municipalities, as well as employers and unions, play in promoting the adoption of ready-recovery workplace policies – providing case examples – and instructs organizations wanting to develop and implement such policies on where to start. It links to other resources on technical assistance, peer organizations and support, as well as research and white papers.
