When Senior Managing Editor Jen Yario and I were talking this week, we agreed that pretty much everyone we know has a family member or friend who’s contending with a substance use disorder.
It takes a lot of courage to admit when we’re struggling – and to take steps to turn things around. Some people are open about their issues with alcohol or drugs. But for others it’s a source of deep embarrassment or shame, so they do everything they can to keep it hidden – not only from the people closest to them, but also the people they work with.
A fast-growing movement is aimed at showing employers how they can support workers who are in recovery from substance use disorders. This month, Associate Editor Barry Bottino takes a look at recovery-friendly workplaces. He speaks with Samantha Lewandowski, who heads up the New Hampshire Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, as well as public health analyst Jamie Osborne, who talks about the challenges of overcoming stigma. One quote from Osborne stands out:
“We definitely still have work to do. Substance use disorder is a health condition. It’s not a mark of poor character. And it’s not a form of deliberate misbehavior.”
Barry also talks with Claire Bryant, senior program manager III for Workplace Safety Programs at the National Safety Council. Bryant, along with some colleagues, is heading up the council’s efforts to become a certified recovery-friendly workplace.
Because I’ve been at NSC so long and care so much about the people I work with, it makes me feel good that the council is taking steps to provide an environment in which everyone can feel safe in every way. I hope other employers will do the same.
The opinions expressed in “Editor’s Note” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.
