Improving the Bottom Line: Supporting Treatment Profits Employers and Employees

Description:
Addiction to drugs and/or alcohol does not just stay in the home; it often spreads into the workplace, causing decreased performance and lower profitability. In 2002, drug use disorders alone contributed to a loss of productivity amounting to $128.6 billion in the United States. Moreover, because an addicted individual is often quite adept at hiding his or her addiction, employers and even coworkers may not be able to recognize what is causing the individual's decreased productivity at the office. Addiction issues do not just cause problems for the individual's work environment, but his or her family members may be having problems at their workplaces as well. This program will examine issues related to addiction in the workforce such as: how to identify where a problem exists, when to intervene and how, and what can be done. It also will demonstrate how employee assistance programs are beneficial to the addicted individual, their family members, and the company.

Host:
Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).