Spike in Drug Abuse and Overdose Deaths Makes Workplace Drug Testing an Urgent Matter

With approximately 70% of the 14.8 million Americans who abuse drugs being employed, and the rate of deaths from overdose continuing to climb annually, workplace drug testing has become a key service for urgent care operators that offer occupational medicine services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims there’s been a 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths attributed to opioid pain medications and heroin, and that nearly 2 million people in the U.S. have a prescription opioid use disorder. Data from the National Safety Council further underscore the economic value of an effective workplace drug testing program, noting that workers who abuse drugs are between two and five times more likely to have unexcused absences, be late for work, become injured or violent at work, file workers’ comp claims, and quit or be fired within their first year of employment. They estimate the cost to U.S. businesses overall to be $140 billion annually. Besides the obvious public health benefits, these economic data should serve as ample rationale in marketing occ med services to employers in the vicinity of your urgent care locations.