Workplace OD’s Skyrocketed Last Year
Overdoses can happen just about anywhere. And with the drug crisis in full-swing, overdoses are happening now more than ever. The sheer amount of people addicted to opioid painkillers has affected the workforce in various ways. Not only has it caused an increase in work-related injuries, but overall production in many businesses has declined due to people being under the influence on the job and thus, under producing. The drug crisis has caused a major financial strain on this country. Unpaid hospital bills are through the roof, businesses have been going under and, as a way of funding massive addictions, crime has gone up. The last year has been a pretty bad year for overdoses and opiate addiction, in general, and recent data suggests that OD’s occurring at the workplace are on the rise.
Alcohol and drug related deaths at the workplace have screamed up 30% in 2016 according to new information recently released by the government. Over 216 workers died as the result of an unintentional overdose at the workplace in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. This number is up compared to 165 overdose deaths in 2015. Besides overdoses being a huge problem in the workplace now, overdose is just a huge problem overall. Last year over 64,000 people died as the result of an overdose according to the CDC.
And what are we doing about it?
We’re creating new drugs, magic cures, and miracle potions to try to eradicate the opioid crisis. We’re coming up with new psychiatric diagnoses and drugs to go along with them. We’re furthering the disease concept of addiction and getting more and more government officials, doctors, and other opinion leaders on board with it. We’re putting tons of money into Methadone clinics and Suboxone doctors. And none of that is working.
And how could it?
We’re continuously doing the same things over and over again hoping that something different comes out it, that something changes. The true definition of insanity. Realistically, we need to shift what we’re doing and how we’re doing it if we want to see any changes come about in regard to the drug crisis. Sure, we can develop new narcotics to get people off drugs, new psychiatric medications, and pump clinics full of funding, but that’s never worked in the past. It’s like they say in certain fellowships, “if nothing changes, nothing changes.” And I’m sick of nothing changing.
“I feel like I’m just standing here on my soapbox yelling at everyone that I know another way to go about it. I know a way that handles it. Yet, my voice falls on deaf ears.”
Drug rehab, drug rehab, drug rehab. Don’t put someone on drugs to get them off drugs. Handle the physical effects of drugs. Get to the core of why a person uses drugs. Help them help themselves. That’s how you properly handle an addiction.
Does anyone hear me?
Sources Used:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/drug-and-alcohol-deaths-at-u-s-workplaces-soar-1513712478?mod=e2tw
