Chronic Pain And Digital Care: A Fresh Approach For Employers

Headlines concerning the opioid crisis and its impact on patients’ personal lives have captured national attention, and rightly so—opioid addiction ruins lives and has a compounding effect on communities. The number of deaths caused by an opioid drug overdose has increased over the years, devastating families, communities and the workforce, with over 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2021 involving an opioid, according to the CDC. More than 263,000 Americans have lost their lives to overdoses involving prescription opioids over the past 20-plus years. And the areas where opioids are prescribed in higher amounts typically skew toward the uninsured, and those who have diabetes, arthritis or a disability. This crisis also undoubtedly affects people’s work lives. A survey from the National Safety Council found that 75% of employers feel their workforce has been impacted by opioid use—but only 17% feel prepared to deal with it.