Opioids are pain relievers. They include: hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs. A typical drug screen report will not indicated the presence of hydrocodone or oxycodone, rather only the presence of morphine or codeine. In order to detect the presence of hydrocodone or oxycodone one needs to request an expanded opiates screen.
A recent statement by the National Institute On Drug Abuse confirms there is, indeed, a crisis. “Deaths from opioid painkillers now exceed all other drug overdose deaths, and we are seeing increases in heroin use and increased deaths from heroin as people addicted to painkillers transition to this cheaper, more potent street drug.”
Castlight Health, a benefits company, recently released a report to provide employers with more information regarding the crisis of opioid abuse in the workplace. Their reported findings include:
- Neck pain, back pain, abdominal pain, and joint pain, all fairly common, are the 4 pain conditions most closely associated with prescription opioid abuse.
- Nearly one third of all opioid prescriptions are being abused.
- When comparing Baby Boomers and millennials, the former are 4 times more likely to be abusers of prescription opioids.
- The estimated annual cost of opioid abuse to U.S. employers is nearly $8 billion.
For more information about the opioiod crisis or the report by Castlight Health see the following:
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2015/03/hhs-announces-actions-to-attack-opioid-abuse-crisis
- http://www.castlighthealth.com/blog/the-opioid-crisis-in-americas-workforce/
To learn more about our drug testing services, call us today at 316-832-0985 for more information.