Additional Resources

EEOC Disability-Related Resources - Links to diverse resources for a range of stakeholders, including employers.

Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the ADA - Clarifies the rights and responsibilities of employers and individuals with disabilities regarding reasonable accommodation and undue hardship.

How Health Care Providers Can Help Current and Former Patients Who Have Used Opioids Stay Employed - Guidance for health care providers.

Mental Health Conditions: Resources for Job Seekers, Employees, and Employers - Information on applicable anti-discrimination laws for people with or in recovery from mental health or substance use disorders.

Use of Codeine, Oxycodone, and Other Opioids: Information for Employees - Information on applicable laws and how they apply n specific cases.

Rural Community Action Guide and Promising Practices Supplement - The guide aims to educate the public by providing an overview of the key challenges rural communities face when addressing the consequences of prescription opioid misuse and the use of illicit substances. The supplement details selected promising practices.

Rural Community Health Toolkit - Provides rural communities with the information, resources, and materials they need to develop a community health program

Integrating Employment Services with Substance Use Treatment and Recovery: The Experiences of Five Programs - This report documents the experiences of five programs that integrate employment services into treatment and recovery programs for people with substance use disorder.

Addressing the Stigma that Surrounds Addiction - Blog post from National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow.

Memorandum to Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Changing Federal Terminology Regarding Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders - Guidance provided by the Director of National Drug Control Policy (January 9, 2017).

Perspective: Stigma and the Toll of Addiction, Nora Volkow, MD, New England Journal of Medicine - Perspective article in peer-reviewed journal.

Words Matter - Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction - Guidance on language and stigma from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

About the Worker Training Program (WTP) - WTP provides grants to nonprofit organizations, including labor-based health and safety organizations and academic institutions, so they can deliver training to a variety of workers who may face a hazardous work environment.

Initiatives to Prevent Opioid Misuse and Promote Recovery Friendly Workplace Programs - Compendium of various approaches including state-, company- and union-led efforts.

Opioids & Substance Use: Workplace Prevention & Response - Diverse resources for employees and employers.

2020 SAMHSA Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant Notice of Funding Availability - 2020 federal grant notice.

Drug-Free Workplace Programs - Information on the Drug-Free Workplace Program.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Prescription Drug Toolkit and Fact Sheets - These provide guidance related to counseling, referrals, and follow-up services (e.g., alternatives to prescription drugs, workplace drug misuse and relapse prevention, dangers of combined drug use, screenings, and evaluations before returning to work).

Model Plan for a Comprehensive Drug-Free Workplace Program - Updated (June 2022) model plan guidance document for employers.

Recovery-Friendly Workplace Toolkit - (SAMHSA Peer Center of Excellence)

SAMHSA Advisory: Integrating Vocational Services into Substance Use Disorder Treatment - Guidance for substance use disorder treatment providers and other stakeholders.

Substance Use Disorders Recovery with a Focus on Employment and Education - Evidence-based resource guide for diverse stakeholders.

Transforming Lives Through Supported Employment (SE) Program - Information on a SAMHSA grant program and the projects undertaken by grantees.

Workplace Prevention Basics: A guide for employers to identify and prevent opioid and other substance misuse in the workplace - Guidance for employers.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Opioid Crisis: Combating Discrimination Against People in Treatment or Recovery - Fact sheet with useful information for employees and employers.

Operation Prevention Workplace Module Guide - Guide to utilizing DEA Operation Prevention workplace modules, which can be found at Operation Prevention.

A Resource for Change: The Role of Peer Recovery Support Specialists in Reentry Programs - Article from The Council of State Governments Justice Center, staff from the Erie County (NY) Jails Co-occurring Enhancement

Reentry Initiative on how peer recovery support specialists can enhance reentry programs.

Using Supported Employment to Help People with Behavioral Health Needs Reentering Communities - This brief, made available by the National Reentry Resource Center, highlights four ways that reentry and community supervision programs can use supported employment services to prepare people with behavioral health needs for successful reentry.

Reentry and Recovery: Employment Matters - This publication released through the Department of Justice’s COSSAP initiative discusses the critical importance of employment to successful recovery and reentry.

Growth Opportunities Grant Program - Grants to nonprofit organizations, local and regional government entities, federally recognized Indian and Tribal governments, and independent school districts to support employment for youth and young adults most impacted by community violence, particularly in areas of concentrated crime and poverty as well as communities that have recently experienced significant unrest. Businesses and unions can be partners in these grants, serving as employers.

National Health Emergency (NHE) Grants: Case Studies - Video interviews with several grantees from the National Health Emergency Demonstration Grants and National Health Emergency Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants.

Northeastern Workforce Development Board recovery-friendly workplace initiative - Helps employers adopt recovery-ready workplace policies.

Opioid Crisis Strategies and DOL Research - Information on approaches for addressing the opioid crisis in the employment context.

Recovery Friendly Workplaces - New Hampshire Model – Online information about the New Hampshire Recovery-Friendly Workplace initiative.

Summer 2022 Workforce System Opioid Webinar Series - Four interactive webinars on serving individuals with opioid addiction and other substance use disorder for workforce professionals at local, state, and federal level, and their partner agencies.

The Federal Bonding Program - The U.S. Department of Labor established The Federal Bonding Program in 1966 to provide Fidelity Bonds for “at-risk,” hard-to-place job seekers. The bonds protect the employer against losses caused by the fraudulent or dishonest acts of the bonded employee for the first six months of employment at no cost to the job applicant or the employer. Eligible groups include, but are not limited to, people in recovery from substance use disorder, justice-involved citizens, economically disadvantaged youth and adults who lack work histories, and individuals with a dishonorable discharge from the military.

The Opioid Crisis in the Construction Industry - Webinar on the opioid crisis in the construction industry.

The Role of the Workforce System in Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Resource Guide - Guidance for National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant recipients and other stakeholders.

The Role of the Workforce System in Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Review of the Literature - Provides a summary of the evidence on: (1) effective and promising practices for providing employment services to people with opioid use disorder; (2) employer best practices for preventing negative effects of opioid use disorder in the workplace and creating recovery-friendly workplaces; and (3) key considerations for developing the health care workforce that is addressing the opioid crisis.

Training and Employment Notice No. 2-21 - Information for states and local areas on the role of the public workforce system in addressing the adverse impacts of opioid and other drug use disorders.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) - The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers who invest in American job seekers who have consistently faced barriers to employment. Employers may meet their business needs and claim a tax credit if they hire an individual who is in a WOTC targeted group. There are numerous targeted groups, including people with felony convictions, but not including people in recovery.

Guided Group Discovery: Participant Workbook and Facilitator Guide - Guided group discovery is a process that helps lay a foundation for competitive integrated employment. For some people, guided group discovery leads to customized employment. For everyone, the process can help to identify opportunities that would be a good fit for them and potential employers.

Measuring Race and Ethnicity in IPS Programs - This brief reviews research on access and effectiveness of IPS for historically underserved groups and suggests a standardized template for states to track race and ethnicity in IPS programs.

Roadmap to Inclusive Career Pathways - An interactive online roadmap that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency.

Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide - Self-guided discovery is a set of strategies that can benefit any job seeker who faces barriers to employment. This guide reports best practices and lessons learned from three state teams that implemented self-guided discovery strategies to help job seekers with disabilities take the next step forward in their careers.

State-level Barriers and Facilitators to Individual Placement Support (IPS) Implementation - This issue brief uses findings from a 2019 national survey of state mental health and vocational rehabilitation (VR) leaders to help state leaders identify common barriers and facilitators to implementing IPS supported employment and strategies.

The ADA and IPS-Supported Employment: Improving the Working Lives of People with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders - This webinar discusses the definition of disability under the ADA and its application to substance use disorders and recovery. Additionally, the webinar dives into the IPS employment model and how it is effectively used for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Substance use Disorder Resources for Federal Contractors and Workers - Information on protections under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and related topics

Alaska Addiction and the Workplace Toolkit - This toolkit provides guidance and tools for designing and implementing workplace policies that protect and support your employees and improve workplace culture; information on substance use-related legal issues and health benefit coverage for substance use disorders; and, best practices for discussing substance use with employees.

Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative - Sponsored by the Colorado School of Public Health’s Center for Health, Work and Environment, The Colorado Prescription Drug Abuse Consortium, and Associated General Contractors, this initiative provides education, training, and resources to help managers and individuals implement workplace practices and support for employees in treatment and recovery.

Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Toolkit - Identifies the steps employers can take to improve organizational effectiveness by becoming a workplace that supports all employees, especially those in recovery from addiction.

Connecticut Recovery Friendly Workplace Toolkit - Outlines five key principles to guide the development of recovery friendly workplaces.

Indiana Workforce Recovery - Best practice guidelines for employers, including a second-chance program for applicants and current employees who are qualified for work but test positive on a drug screen.

Kentucky Transformational Employment Program (KTEP) - The Kentucky Transformational Employment Program (KTEP) provides a pathway for businesses and employers to help more Kentuckians reach long-term recovery while supporting fair chance employment.

Minnesota Opioid Epidemic Response: Employer Toolkit – Developed by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Business Partnership (MBP), the toolkit identified five steps employers can take to prevent and address substance use disorder.

Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation Substance Use Recovery and Workplace Safety Program - Eligible employers can be reimbursed for development and legal review of substance use policies and procedures; training for employees on substance use and their employer’s related policies; training to better manage employees in recovery; and, drug testing for prospective and current employees using recovery-friendly “second chance” testing policies. Employers also have access to Better You! Better Ohio!, a free employee wellness incentive program.

Opioids and the Workplace: An Employer Toolkit for Supporting Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery - This toolkit was developed by the Kentuckiana Health Collaborative to help employers to support their employees and their dependents in prevention, treatment, and recovery from opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD).

Recovery Friendly Missouri - The Recovery Friendly Initiative empowers workplaces to support people affected by substance use disorders and those in recovery.

Recovery Friendly New Hampshire and Employer Orientation Packet - The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative gives business owners resources and support to foster a supportive environment that encourages the success of their employees in recovery.

Recovery Friendly North Carolina initiative and introduction to NC Recovery-Friendly Workplace Toolkit.

Recovery Friendly Workplace California - A recently established division of the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD), San Diego, this initiative emerged from New Hampshire’s Recovery-Friendly Workplace Community of Practice and aspires to assist businesses in adopting recovery-ready policies statewide.

Recovery Friendly Workplace Illinois - Recovery Friendly Workplaces encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction.

Recovery Friendly Workplaces of New Mexico - A 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization working to recruit businesses to hire people in recovery from substance use disorder after completion of treatment.

Recovery Ohio Recovery Friendly Employer Training Modules – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and the training and consulting firm Working Partners developed these eight video training modules.

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Substance Misuse Toolkit - Six easy-to-watch online training modules. (30 minutes or less per video)

Illinois Recovery and Mental Health Tax Credit Act - Eligible employers may apply for a tax credit of up to $2,000 per individual in recovery from a substance use or mental health disorder that they employ full-time or part-time. Credit is based on the number of hours the employee works and may be taken in the year the individual is hired or in the following year.

New York Recovery Friendly Workplace Tax Credit - Eligible employers can apply to receive up to $2,000 of tax credit per employee in recovery hired in the current tax year, and/or the year immediately prior to that, if hours are aggregated over two years.

The Basics of Recovery the Ready Workplace and Hampden County’s Recovery Ready Workplace Program Employer Guide - This guide is part of a package of resources that MassHire Hampden County developed to help local businesses create a culture of support for employees on the journey of recovery from substance use and addictions.

The Substance Use Recovery and Workplace Safety Program (SURWSP) - A collaboration between the County of Summit Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board (ADM Board) and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, this program offers employers that hire people in recovery training on management and retention of workers in recovery, reimbursement for drug testing, and a forum for employers, workers, and boards to share their success stories and learn from each other.

Allied Trades Assistance Program (ATAP) - ATAP is a non-profit organization created by Philadelphia trade unions to contain costs and promote improved service delivery for substance use disorder, mental health concerns and related issues to union members, retirees and dependents.

Finding Healing Through Solidarity - Union Peer Support Specialists Help Fellow Members in Recovery – Blog post by Maine AFL-CIO featuring the union’s Laborers Escaping Addiction Now (LEAN) program.

Peer Advocacy for Construction Workers Struggling with Substance Use and Mental Health - This paper presents the findings from focused telephone interviews with members of the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Opioids Taskforce to learn how peer advocacy networks and similar initiatives are responding to the opioid problem in the construction industry.

Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 Assistance and Recovery Program is the organization that assists Local No. 3 members and their families who may have a substance use disorder. ARP, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, separate from the Union, employers and the Benefit Trust Fund. This places ARP in a neutral position where we can help the members and their families confidentially.

Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO) searchable member map and member list. Employers can utilize this to find recovery community organizations serving the communities where

National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) state affiliate map and list - NARR is a membership association dedicated to expanding the availability of well-operated, ethical and supportive recovery housing. It has developed the most widely referenced national standard for the operation of recovery residences. NARR operates through state affiliates which certify recovery housing. As of January 2023, NARR had 30 operational state affiliates and an additional 9 that were under development. Employers may wish to contact state-level NARR affiliates as potential partners.

Oxford House Directory - Oxford House, Inc. charters over 3,000 self-run, self-supported recovery residences nationally. Employers may wish to contact the organization to explore the possibility of partnering.

Recovery Friendly Leader (RFL) – RFL is a 501(c)(3) that provides training to corporate leaders, managers, and supervisors on how to effectively support employees with substance use disorders and how to promote safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.

Recovery Business Alliance (RBA) - Recovery Business Alliance (RBA), is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating recovery responsive workplaces nationwide in support of employees, employers and economies.

A Public Health Approach to Protecting Workers from Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Related to Occupational Exposure, Injury, and Stress (Policy Number 202012) - Outlines the APH position on protecting worker from opioid use disorder and overdose in the occupational context, identifying strategies for addressing it.

HIMS (Human Intervention Motivational Study): HIMS (Human Intervention Motivational Study): HIMS is an occupational substance use disorder treatment program for commercial pilots. This industry-wide program, involving airlines, pilots, healthcare professionals, and the FAA, coordinates the identification, treatment, and return to work process for pilots with substance use disorder.

Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP): The Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP) offers services and tools for the prevention of and recovery from substance use disorders for Flight Attendants. It also seeks to build a climate of safety and wellness by creating a workplace culture shift that no longer ignores, stigmatizes, or disciplines Flight Attendants struggling with such health problems. Offers peer mentors to assist flight attendants returning to duty maintain recovery while flying, provides a wellness mobile app, information, and other resources.
Affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups (ERGs), bring together employees with similar backgrounds or interests and can have a powerful influence in the workplace.
Employers that have, or are exploring establishing, affinity groups, though, must consider several legal and practical issues.

Workplace: Recovery Supportive Policies - Provides recommendations for creating a recovery-supportive workplace through culture, policies, and practices. Defines a recovery-supportive workplace (RSW) is one that values the experiences of people in recovery from addiction and the unique perspectives and tools they bring to the workplace.

Delta Airlines – The American Psychiatric Association Center for Workplace Mental Health highlighted Delta airlines for its efforts to address substance use disorder and mental health conditions in employees through its employee assistance program, peer support, behavioral health leave and accommodations, and other practices.

Belden’s Pathways to Employment: A Community-Based Solution Blending Drug Rehabilitation with the Promise of Employment for Workers Willing to Lead Drug-Free Lives. An overview of Belden, Inc.’s Pathways to Employment initiative, which provides a pathway to employment for people who test positive on a pre-employment drug screen.

Hypertherm – Titled Lessons from Becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace, this podcast interview and transcript describe Hypertherm Associates’ journey to become a recovery-ready workplace through New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.

DV8 Kitchen was developed and operates as a second chance employment opportunity for people who are trying to redirect their lives. People in the early stages of substance abuse recovery often find it difficult to find employers willing to take a chance on them.

Grayken Center Employer Resource Library

Selected Resources from Library:

• Assessing and Engaging the Organization Checklist
• Employer Survey on Employee Support for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Focus Group Discussion Questions
• Benefits Coverage Questionnaire
• Guiding principles and steps for developing cross-functional advisory team
• Developing Policies and Practices Checklist
• Supporting and Encouraging Employees Checklist
• CEO Sample Letter: Words Matter – The sample letter includes a language guidance table and a pledge for employees to sign

Federation of State Physician Health Programs, Inc. (FSPHP) is a 501c3 national membership association that evolved from initiatives taken by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), State Medical Societies/Associations and individual state physician health programs. A Physician Health Program (PHP) is a confidential resource for physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, and those training to become health professionals with substance use, psychiatric, medical, behavioral or other potentially impairing conditions. A List of state Physician Health Programs can be found here.

Impaired Practice in Nursing: A Guidebook for Interventions and Resources. Massachusetts Nurses Association. a resource to the collective bargaining representatives, within the Massachusetts Nurses Association, as they assist nurses with impaired practice and/or substance use problems. In addition, it serves as a resource for nurses who may have a concern regarding their own use of substances or a colleague’s behavior associated with substance use.

Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses (WisPAN) is Wisconsin’s peer support organization for nurses with substance use disorder run by nurses in recovery from substance use disorders.

Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN), New York peer support organization for nurses affected by substance use disorder. (Very rudimentary website)

Nurses Peer Support Network of Minnesota - NPSNetwork is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing support to Minnesota nurses in recovery from substance use disorder. NPSNetwork's mission is two-fold: to serve nurses in recovery throughout Minnesota; and, to provide education to the nursing schools, professional organizations, employers of nurses and the general public about substance use disorder, recovery and the role of peer support.

Intervention Project for Nurses, Florida. The mission of IPN is to ensure public health and safety by providing education, monitoring, and support to nurses in the State of Florida.

Drugs at Work: What Employers Need to Know - Key information and resources for employers.

Goplerud et al. A Substance Use Cost Calculator for US Employers With an Emphasis on Prescription Pain Medication Misuse - Article in peer reviewed journal describing the methodology for developing the NORC/NSC Substance Use Cost Calculator.

The Proactive Role Employers Can Take: Opioids in The Workplace - Saving Jobs, Saving Lives and Reducing Human Costs. National Safety Council publication providing current evidence on opioid pain medications and their potential impact on your workplace and offers a “call to action” to assist employers in: 1) Partnering effectively with benefit providers; 2) Assessing current workplace policies and scope of drug testing; 3) Prioritize essential education efforts; and, 4) Improve access to confidential help for employees.

NORC, NSC Mental Health Employer Cost Calculator - Mental health cost calculator developed utilizing similar approach.

NORC/NSC Briefs:

• Cannabis and the Workplace
• Driving Under the Influence
• How Workers with Active Substance Use Disorders Impact Employer Health Care Costs
• Impacts of Alcohol on Worker Health, Safety, Risk-taking and Workplace Costs
• Prescription Opioids and Work
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability and Return to Work
• Substance Use Disorders by Occupation
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Substance Use, Gender and Sexual Orientation
• Substance Use: Prevention, Screening Tools and Workplace Policies
• Turnover and Substance Use: What It Costs and What Can Be Done

Opioids At Work Employer Toolkit - A comprehensive employer guide for addressing opioids.

Substance Use Cost Calculator for U.S. Employers: Overview of Data Sources and Analytic Approach - Overview of cost calculator methodology.

Substance Use Employer Cost Calculator - Developed in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, the National Safety Council’s cost calculator provides a tool for estimating the cost substance use to employers taking into account industry, geography, and company size.

The ABA Well-Being Campaign was launched to improve the substance use and mental health landscape of the legal profession, with an emphasis on helping legal employers support healthy work environment. The primary vehicle for the Campaign is a Pledge calling upon legal employers (including law firms, corporate entities, government agencies and legal aid organizations) to first: (a) recognize that substance use and mental health problems represent a significant challenge for the legal profession and acknowledge that more can and should be done to improve the health and well-being of lawyers; and, (b) pledge to support the Campaign and work to adopt and prioritize its seven-point framework for building a better future.

American Bar Association Well-Being Pledge - The ABA Well-Being Campaign was launched to improve the substance use and mental health landscape of the legal profession, with an emphasis on helping legal employers support healthy work environment

Intervention and Impairment Assistance – American Bar Association Guidance for attorneys, law firms, and other entities employing lawyers

American Bar Association Directory of Lawyer Assistance Programs - Lawyer Assistance Programs provide confidential services and support to judges, lawyers and law students who are facing substance use disorders or mental health issues.

Employing and Managing People with Substance Use Addictions - This SHRM toolkit discusses the prevalence of individuals with substance use addiction in the workplace, the negative impact of substance misuse for employers and how employers can assist individuals with substance use addictions.

Employer Guide to Second Chance Hiring Programs and Tax Credits - Provides information on WOTC, the Federal Bonding Program, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Growth Opportunities Grant Program.

Raise Your Recovery Awareness in the Workplace (Blog Post) - Recommendations for employers.

Sharing Solutions: Businesses Combat the Opioid Crisis - Sharing Solutions was created by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to highlight workforce resources and showcase innovative solutions to the opioid crisis.

Addiction In The Workplace - How Leaders Can Help Create A Path To Recovery, Forbes Business Council.

Opioids in the Workplace: Awareness - Rutgers University School of Public Health: This one-hour free web-based training is based on the National Institute on Environmental Health Sciences’ Opioids & Substance Use: Workplace Prevention & Response toolkit.

The Effects of Substance Use on Workplace Injuries - Rand Corporation, 2009. A review of the scientific literature on the impact of substance use on occupational injuries.

What You Can Do to Create an Inclusive Workplace for Employees in Long-Term Recovery - This Inc. Magazine post notes that, in order to create a truly inclusive workplace, companies must do more to support and embrace employees in long-term recovery. It identifies five ways employers can do that.