Employers can play a critical role in preventing substance use disorders and drug-related deaths by helping workers access treatment and maintain recovery from SUD. An estimated 46 million Americans aged 18 or older experienced a substance use disorder in 2022. Nearly two-thirds of those people (30.1 million) were employed. 1 of every 22 deaths in the US among persons aged 15-74 was attributable to unintentional overdose involving opioids in 2021. Provisional data suggests that approximately 110,000 people died of a drug overdose in 2022. Drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants also continue to rise. Implementing this project to support the drug free workplaces is anticipated to include preventing the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, addressing substance misuse within the context of workplace health and wellness programs, and providing intervention services for employees and for their families. Evidence based programs and strategies that are effective or have been accepted as scientifically sound in a peer-reviewed journal or other source will serve as a central part of this drug-free workplace initiatives. The program recognizes that successful drug-free workplace programs are ongoing and evolving. An important strategy is to integrate the drug free plan into the workplace culture and environment and keep the program responsive to changing conditions.

The program has an emphasis on working with employers, unions and individuals from higher risk industries like the construction trades and hospitality industries and will also work to provide community-based education and awareness programs that will include educating and training workplace supports who are peers.