INDIANAPOLIS — Joining forces with Gov. Eric Holcomb and his administration in its effort to combat the opioid epidemic, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Wellness Council of Indiana recently announced the Indiana Workforce Recovery initiative.
The impact of drug abuse on Hoosiers, families and communities has been well documented. Those negative consequences of individual addiction have spread to the workplace, damaging Indiana’s economy. The Indiana University Kelley School of Business places the economic impact of opioid misuse at $1.5 billion per year. National researchers identify 58 percent of those suffering from drug addiction as being in the workforce.
Specific Indiana Workforce Recovery programs will be unveiled as they are developed. They will focus on educating and guiding employers to:
• offer health benefits that provide coverage for substance abuse disorders
• expand drug testing to include prescription drugs
• rovide effective employee assistance, wellness and work-life programs that include information and services related to substances abuse prevention, treatment and return to work issues
• train managers to recognize and respond to substance abuse issues