The opioid crisis is waging a war across the US. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 75% of workplaces are affected by this crisis. More than 93,000 Americans died of overdoses in 2020. This number grew dramatically during the pandemic with over 100,000 overdose deaths between May 2020 to May 2021. This number has doubled in the past 5 years. 70% of these were the result of opioids; 73% of the opioid overdoses are from the lethal synthetic Fentanyl. 28 states had increases of 30% or greater in opioid overdoses in 2020.

Construction workers and extended families are disproportionately at risk for soft tissue injuries at work and home (athletics/sports) and from orthopedic, dental, and general medical surgical procedures. Learn how to protect your workforce and your family from opioids through practical and proven first-exposure prevention strategies. Learn risk assessment methods to evaluate the risk in your organizations and families. Learn innovative approaches to counter these identified exposures through risk management strategies to prevent and mitigate exposure to first doses and/or addiction during medical and surgical procedures.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the mental and physical effects of chronic pain learning alternatives to opioids and opioid-sparing protocols.
2. Assess the human and financial consequences of opioids in the workplace, including absenteeism, presenteeism, Workers Compensation, and Employee Medical Health Benefit claims.
3. Learn how Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols optimize surgical outcomes in work- and/or home-related cases.
4. Discuss recommendations, resources, and tools available to help companies and families address the risk of opioids, including practical first-exposure prevention strategies.

Co-Presenters:

Cal Beyer, CWP, Vice President; Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing; ACAP Health Works (Dallas) and Holmes Murphy & Associates; Des Moines, Iowa.

Brand Newland, PharmD, is CEO and Co-founder of Goldfinch Health based in Austin, Texas.

This webinar is sponsored by CURT, TAUC, IMPACT, Iron Workers, and Mechanical Insulators LMCT.