This month we will be joined by Eric Persaud DrPHc, MEA of SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health.
He currently works with the NIEHS Worker Training Program and is working on his dissertation, which is on the NIEHS WTP Opioids and Workplace Training Program. He earned his Master’s in Environmental Assessment from North Carolina State University and earned his Bachelors in Geology from City College of New York.
Included below is a brief synopsis of what Eric will be presenting on during our Round Table. Please feel free to add questions for discussion.
Opioids and the Workplace
By: Eric Persaud, DrPHc, MEA
In 2018, there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths in the United States. 46,802 of those overdose deaths were from opioids, a class of drugs prescribed to relive pain, but that can also lead to addiction and overdose. The rates of opioid overdoses are significantly higher in industries of higher injury risk. There may be a connection to the opioid crisis and working conditions through multiple pathways, such as lack of paid sick leave, injury and illness, job insecurity, chronic pain, high levels of stress, punitive workplace substance use policies, and the loss of well-paying jobs economically devastating communities.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program recognized the need to address the opioid crisis, and leveraged its position with organizations, unions, academics, and government to create awareness level training tools on preventing and responding to opioid use. The “Opioids and the Workplace Prevention and Response” (OWPR) training tool was piloted and found to be helpful in raising awareness of workers, trainers, and those in positions of leader.
Some of the challenges of the OWPR training program has been addressing stigma and addiction, such as communicating that opioid use disorder is a disease and not caused by a lack of willpower.
Opioid overdose deaths are increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation and stress may be partially why approximately 50% of Americans report the COVID-19 crisis is impacting their mental health. Stress, not just in the workplace, but in the community as lack of healthcare, housing barriers, food insecurity, income gaps, and race discrimination may only be exacerbating the overlapping disasters.
What can we do?
Take a stand against stigma and address addiction as a disease
Change punitive workplace policies to supportive
Establish peer programs
Advocate for benefits that cover treatment and recovery
Conduct culturally appropriate training and education
Agenda
Topic: Opioid Awareness
Agenda:
Group Introductions
Organization News
Mask Distributions Continue
Introduction of Our Guest Presenter: Eric Persaud
Eric will be discussing Opioid Awareness and the COVID effects
Questions and Answers
Topics of Interest Moving Forward
Next Steps
