Opioid Crisis Is At The Front Door of The Big 3

The Automotive Industry has a list of high demands to keep up with the mass production of cars for consumers, there is a problem that has been impacting it's employees. That is being brought to attention with a startling new report of how opioids are now becoming an alarming problem for the employees of The Big 3.

According to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, drug overdoses are now becoming the leading death of Americans who are under the age of 50. There has been a 21% increase in opioid related death from a myriad of opioid related substances, from heroin, opioid pills, and synthetic heroin.

Employees of the Big 3 do a lot of tedious work, and are standing for 11 hours a day during their shifts. Many of them suffering from aches and pain on the job are being prescribed painkillers by their doctors, of course with the more employees are using the drugs to relieve pain many can become dependent and build a tolerance to the drug, it becomes a slippery slope.

Many employers in the auto industry do have programs intact to help with any substance abuse issues that may arise among their workers. There are programs for alcohol and marijuana usage in place in the work force. These programs offer to up to a month of paid leave to seek treatment, along with job protection while the employee is going through treatment. However with opioid abuse, medical experts say the road to recovery is a longer process.

The Big 3 is trying to find solutions to what they can do to help their employees from rolling out new programs to deal with this issue, along with better education of how opioids can impact those around you, and yourself.

Read The Story In More Depth at Automotive News

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