The integration of employees’ work and private lives has pushed personal problems into the spotlight during COVID-19. Substance abuse is a major issue employers can no longer ignore.
Twenty-one million people suffer from substance abuse disorders in the U.S. and 70% of that population is employed, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Since last March, one-third of workers have admitted to drinking or using drugs on the job, according to a survey by alcohol.org.
The abrupt change to a remote work environment not only challenged those with existing issues, but pushed many other people toward drugs and alcohol as a coping tool, says Dr. Yusuf Sherwani, CEO of Quit Genius, a digital substance abuse clinic.
“One of the things that happened overnight is that for people who might have already been susceptible to addictions, psychological stress led them to drinking a lot more or using other substances,” Sherwani says. “The changes in how people work means that what might have been noticed in an office environment may not be picked up.”
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As employees get vaccinated and workplaces reopen, mental health and substance abuse issues won’t just go away, Sherwani says. While employers are eager to return to normal, the long-term implications will need to be addressed.
“There is no vaccine for mental health or addiction,” he says. “Addiction is a chronic disease, not a moral failing. Addressing it from a leadership perspective is incredibly important.”
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This proactive approach should extend to benefits too. While telehealth can fill the gaps and provide accessible support, it’s often difficult for employees to navigate the flood of options offered through an EAP program, Sherwani says. Nearly all employers are offering telehealth benefits in 2021, and 88% will offer virtual mental health support this year, according to the Business Group on Health.
“The explosion of single-point solutions and tools can be very difficult to navigate and an EAP might not be able to really deliver,” Sherwani says. “If it can’t, where are they then referred to so they don’t fall through those gaps in care?”
Sherwani’s platform, Quit Genius, provides digital cognitive behavioral therapy, telemedicine options and access to clinical care teams to prescribe medications proven to assist in addiction recovery. Providing a single virtual solution can help ease the challenges of seeking care and support employees at every stage of their recovery.
“It's not going to be as easy to support struggling employees, so we've got to work harder and not only add solutions but see how they work with each other,” Sherwani says. “Employers are understanding this and want to do the best they can by their employees.”
