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LEWISTOWN-- Substance abuse in the workplace can damage the health of employees as well as the health of a business.
The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Geisinger, sponsored a Substance Abuse in the Workplace Forum Thursday at the Compass Center in Lewistown. Rhonda Moore, executive director of the chamber, said substance abuse not only has an economical impact on the area, but a social effect too. With many employers approaching the chamber about their concerns, the chamber decided it was important to address the issue to learn how to understand addiction, the effects of it in the workplace, what signs and symptoms to look for and how to act and react when the problem arises.
A panel of experts spoke at the forum including Leeann Webster, assistant director of Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Programs at Geisinger. Webster started by giving some statistics about alcohol and substance misuse in the United States.
"Nearly 23 million Americans- almost one in 10- are addicted to alcohol or other drugs," Webster said.
She said alcohol misuse cost the United States $249 billion each year in lost productivity, health care expenses and law enforcement and opioid misuse in 2015 cost the U.S. $504 billion, a six-fold increase from a previous study in 2013 of $78.5 billion.
To understand addiction, Webster explained that it is a compulsive, physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance that can interfere with ordinary responsibilities and concerns such as work. Addiction causes a brain disorder where there are changes in both brain structure and function over time and with continued misuse, neuroadaptions in the brain result causing continued, periodic cravings, which lead to relapse.
"The effects on the brain are manifested in three distinct ways," Webster said, "Craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use and continuing involvement despite adverse consequences."
Repeated exposure to a substance or behavior results in the brain transitioning from liking to wanting to needing, hence an addiction is born.
Who becomes addicted? Webster said it's an equal opportunity disease, it can happen to anyone in spite of age, sex, race or socioeconomic status. Some of the risk factors include: family history of abuse or addiction, history of mental disorder, history of physical abuse or neglect, household instability and history of substance use during adolescence.
"Stress caused by these risk factors activate the same stress circuits in the brain as addictive substance," Webster said. "Leading to increased risk of addiction."
She said substance misuse in adolescence increases risk of addiction since the brain is not finished developing until age 21 to 25.
With the opioid epidemic, many users are classified as "jobless," which is not always the case. Webster said 2/3 of people addicted to pain medications are employed and the number of workers who died at work because of drug or alcohol abuse related incident increased by 30 percent. She said the source of prescription pain medications for nonmedical use comes mostly from a friend or relative.
Webster said that addiction of any kind is treatable but not curable.
"It takes a village to help these individuals," she said as she showed all the components needed for comprehensive drug abuse treatment.
The motivation to enter treatment is low due to lack of education regarding treatment, jail time, duration of treatment, confessing to family and employers about the problem, not ready to stop using, underestimate the problem and over-estimate the ability to control it and lack of community resources.
"The number one reason is most associate addiction with illegal substances," Webster said.
Webster concluded by saying treatment is less expensive than not treating.
"For every dollar invested in treatment yields up to $7 in reduced crime-related costs," she said. "Also reduces interpersonal conflicts, improves workplace productivity and fewer drug-related accidents."
Emily Swineford, director of sales and a shareholder at Nittany Paper Inc., said substance abuse can cost employers $81 billion annually due to accidents, call offs, drug testing, turnover, increased health care cost and increased injuries.
"Seventy percent of the 14.8 million who use illegal drugs are employed," Swineford said.
Nittany Paper does have an Employee Assistance Program in place for those who feel they may have a problem or feel they're developing problem. The free program offers counseling services.
Amanda Wright, of Spherion Staffing Services, said the average business spends $13,000 a year in costs directly related to employee users.
Some of the signs to look for with a potential addict are lack of attention, defensive or quick tempered, decreased productivity, attendance issues, high healthcare costs, theft and workers compensation claims.
Dealing with such issues causes low morale for the rest of workforce.
"High frustration with under-performing co-workers, increased tension among co-workers, increased turnover and increased risk of injury," Wright said are some of the costs of substance abuse along with losing the best employees.
Wright stressed that businesses need to train staff and have a plan in place to be prepared if and when a problem arises.
Mike Hannon and Martha Leister, of Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, said from 2015 to 2017 they have seen a 60 percent increase in people seeking services from the agency and they have added two new staff to handle the increase.
They gave some examples of the signs and symptoms of addicts including changes in peer group, argumentative, stealing or borrowing of money, avoiding attention, trouble with police, secretive behavior, decline in hygiene, tardiness, absenteeism and neglect to details. He gave other examples of symptoms for other specific types of drugs and explained how Naloxone (Narcan) is used to reverse an overdose by opioid drugs. Hannon's office does supply the area's first responders with Naloxone and if a business qualifies, the office can supply free Narcan to the business.
But first and foremost, Hannon said the best way to solve an addiction problem is to try and intervene at the earliest time possible.
When suspecting an employee is having a problem, Hannon and Jill Pecht, clinical director at Clear Concepts, said your reaction to an issue is important.
"Let them know you care and that you are noticing signs and symptoms," Hannon said.
"Ask, don't accuse," Pecht said. "Don't scream or yell or put them down. You have to be able to connect. If they trust you, they'll realize you're there to help them. I treat them with dignity and respect."
She said how you react plays a vital role in where they'll be in their treatment.
"I treat them how I would want to be treated, like a human being," Pecht said. "Don't give up on a person and you'll get a better response."
She said if an employer suspects and employee they have every right to ask them if there is a problem.
"It's your business," Pecht said. "If they need help, offer it. Just confront it and be nice about it."
Both Pecht and Hannon said employers are welcome to call either of their agencies for help and for assistant navigating the rehab system. Clear Concepts can be reached at (717) 242-3070 and Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission is (717) 242-1446.
Moore wrapped up the forum by saying, "All of us have been affected by addiction, one way or another. All of us are responsible for our employees and those around us. We need to work to protect our employees and those individuals."
For more information, visit www.drugfreeworkplacepa.org, which features step-by-step instructions on creating a drug policy, supervisor and employee training, employee assistance information, drug testing information and family education.