Three-quarters of U.S. employers say their workplaces have been affected by opioid use, according to survey data released this week by the National Safety Council. 

More than 100 Americans die daily from opioid overdoses, which means that for the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash, according to NSC calculations. Additionally, workplace deaths involving drugs or alcohol have increased by at least 25 percent for five consecutive years.

According to the survey results, 38 percent of the 526 employers surveyed said their workplace has experienced absenteeism or impaired worker performance due to employee opioid use. Additionally, 31 percent of organizations responding said there has been an overdose, arrest, injury or near miss because of opioid use. 

“The opioid crisis truly is encompassing nearly every aspect of American lives,” Nick Smith, National Safety Council interim president and CEO, said in a press release. The survey “confirms that the No. 1 cause of preventable death is not just taking its toll on our home lives, but companies across the country are also grappling with the impact of this epidemic.” 

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Employers are more concerned about hiring and benefits and worker compensation costs than employee use of legal or illicit opioids. However, opioid misuse can affect all other issues employers cited as more concerning.
• 86 percent of employers believe taking opioids even as prescribed can impair job performance, yet only 60 percent have policies in place requiring employees to notify their employer when they are using a prescription opioid.
• Only half of employers are very confident they have the appropriate HR policies and resources to deal with opioid use and misuse in the workplace.

The National Safety Council offers a free Prescription Drug Employer Kit to help employers manage opioid use at work. Based on additional survey results, the NSC intends to add components to the kit, including a robust workplace policy.