Pandemic Worsens American Opioid Crisis

The nation’s COVID-19 pandemic has put the health of workers in jeopardy in more ways than one. According to a report from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Advocacy Resource Center, every U.S. state has reported a spike or increase in overdose deaths during the pandemic.

Overdoses related to prescription opioids and heroin remain high. The overdose epidemic is also driven by illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, methamphetamine, and cocaine, often in combination or in adulterated forms.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. (NCADD), drug abuse costs employers US$81 billion annually. Although many may picture an addict as someone who has no home or job, that is usually not the case. Over 70% of people with a substance abuse disorder are employees. However, addicts are often not top performers at work. More than 42% of people with an addiction who have a job report a decrease in productivity due to their dependency. This lost productivity costs employers an estimated $25.5 billion each year.

In response to the effects of the opioid pandemic on the workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor announced this week the award of $1.8 million in incremental funding to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The funding will support job creation and workforce training services in 13 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

The award is the second allocation of a $5.6 million National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant awarded in July 2019. This funding will serve eligible individuals in Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeWitt, Jo Daviess, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Ogle, Putnam, Whiteside, and Will counties.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Opioid Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants create temporary jobs and provide services to reintegrate workers affected by the crisis.