One in three workers reported using pain relievers with the majority of those on prescriptions drugs and under 5% of workers reported abuse of pain relievers or dependence, according to a study released Wednesday by the Integrated Benefits Institute.
To study the impact of the opioid epidemic and substance abuse on the American workforce, the Oakland, California-based research organization surveyed over the phone 84,579 American workers over 18 years old between 2015 and 2017, with 74% of them reporting to be working full time, according to the study.
Major findings included:
The California Division of Workers’ Compensation is updating its formulary for injured workers to include more nonexempt opioids and other drugs, vitamins, minerals and supplements the revised formulary will ban under the workers comp system.