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- NSC.org
- NSC Shop
- Injury Facts
- Safety+Health Magazine
According to the most recent predictions, 107,000 people died of an opioid overdose in 2023; 75% of these deaths involved an opioid.
Opioids were developed to help people recover from severe injuries and surgery, and to manage chronic or acute pain. There are many types of opioids. They all work similarly in the body and are a leading cause of addiction (second only to alcohol), non-deadly overdose and fatal overdose. Opioids impact workplaces.
● Workers who experience injuries on the job might be prescribed opioids for pain
● Workers who work long shifts or do repetitive movement work are at greater risk for injuries and pain
● Opioids can impair thinking and reaction time, leading to serious errors when performing tasks that require focus, attention to detail or quick reaction time
● Nearly 1 in 10 workers who dye at work die from overdose, mostly from opioids, making it more important than ever that workplaces carry naloxone
● Workplaces with high rates of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders increase a person’s risk for being prescribed opioids, which can lead to misuse, addiction, overdose and impairment
65% of overdose deaths had at least one opportunity for intervention; last year alone, nearly half (43%) of overdose deaths had another person present
Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication. Opioids interfere with neurotransmitters that control breathing. An overdose happens when opioids cause breathing to slow down too much or stop completely. Naloxone temporarily stops opioids from interfering in the brain, allowing a person to breathe normally again. Naloxone is safe and effective. Naloxone will not harm a person who is not having an opioid overdose. Naloxone only disrupts opioids attached to neuroreceptors in the brain. If there are no opioids, naloxone has no impact.
Naloxone should be placed in workplace first aid kits or other accessible locations. Naloxone should be given along with first aid and emergency response procedures as part of your workplace suspected opioid overdose emergency response procedures. Sometimes multiple doses of naloxone are needed, so have multiple doses available. For resources to train your teams on overdose, naloxone and first aid, visit the Workplace Wellbeing Hub’s employee training section, and develop your own opioid overdose implementation plan.
Cody Nagle J.D., shares her story of recovery. After struggling with a substance use disorder, including involvement with the court system, Nagle, now in long-term recovery, talks about the importance of supporting workers through recovery-supportive and fair-chance policies in workplaces.
Sheriff (ret) Jim McDonnell talks about the importance of naloxone. McDonnell began his career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for nearly 30 years. Since leaving law enforcement, Jim continues to promote opioid overdose response in the workplace and communities.
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