Should you prepare for an opioid overdose in your workplace?
Overdose deaths in the workplace increased by 38 percent annual between 2013 and 2016, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics - and they show no sign of slowing down. Overall, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics says that on average 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
As the opioid crisis continues unabated, more and more employers are trying to whether or not they should establish a program that would make naloxone available in the event of an overdose. The drug can reverse many of the lift-threatening effects of an opioid overdose – but is it right for all workplaces? Is it difficult to administer? Does staff have to be trained in its use? What are the legal ramifications?