Preventing Overdoses in the Workplace
Across the nation, nearly four out of five employers and almost three-quarters of employees say opioid use is a problem in workplaces.1 62% of employers, along with nearly half of employees, believe opioids are impacting workplace safety.1 Yet despite these concerns, only about 30% of employees report that their workplace actually has naloxone – a medication that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose – available.1
Naloxone is a safe, easy-to-use medication that can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes. It’s available without a prescription in all 50 states, and it can be administered by anyone with minimal training. Having naloxone onsite is no different from having first-aid kits or Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on hand; it’s a basic, evidence-based lifesaving measure.
Preparing your workforce doesn’t require complex medical training. Here’s a simple, workplace-friendly overview:
1. Recognize the signs of overdose
Common symptoms include:
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Pale, clammy skin
- Unresponsiveness or inability to wake up
If you think someone may be overdosing, act immediately. You cannot harm someone by giving naloxone.
2. Administer naloxone
Most workplaces that do have naloxone on site use naloxone in a nasal spray form, such as the brand name Narcan.
Steps:
- Lay the person on their back.
- Tilt their head slightly.
- Insert the nozzle into one nostril.
- Press the plunger firmly.
If there’s no response in 2–3 minutes, give a second dose.
3. Call 911 and monitor the person
Naloxone has a temporary effect that lasts 30 to 90 minutes, so emergency medical help is still essential.
4. Provide basic support
If breathing is slow, provide rescue breathing if trained. If they begin to wake up, reassure them; confusion is normal.
Training on how to respond to an overdose takes just a few minutes. There is a free eLearning on responding to suspected opioid overdose to make this process even more accessible for workplaces.
While there are some employees and employers who understand that substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition, many still incorrectly see it as a moral failing or poor choice. These attitudes can prevent people from seeking help and prevent employers from taking meaningful steps to keep workers safe.
Creating a stigma-free, recovery-supportive workplace includes using nonjudgmental, person-first language, training supervisors to respond appropriately, ensuring benefits include access to treatment, making naloxone availability anonymous and accessible, and adopting recovery-friendly workplace policies, which the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance can provide tools to help you do.
Every employer can take straightforward steps to prevent overdoses and protect their workforce by stocking naloxone at all worksites and keep it as accessible as an AED or fire extinguisher and training employees to recognize and respond to overdoses. NDWA also offers supervisor and employer training courses to help organizations identify when a worker may be impaired at work.
Overdose is preventable, but only if workplaces are prepared. Stocking naloxone, training workers, and creating a supportive environment can be the difference between tragedy and survival.
Citations:
- Naloxone survey results - National Safety Council. (n.d.). https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/naloxone-survey-results
Sources:
Naloxone survey results - National Safety Council. (n.d.). https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/naloxone-survey-results