This year's theme: “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal”
The theme of this year’s Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month emphasizes the need to educate people about the disease and to help those with substance use disorders get the ongoing support they need to overcome the addiction.
“The theme is very relevant for today’s workplace where substance abuse continues to be a critical problem,” says Marie Apke of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates (www.bensingerdupont.com). “According to BDA’s utilization data, during the first half of 2009, 40% of management referrals into the EAP were for possible substance abuse.”
Substance abuse can negatively affect an employer’s bottom line by increasing health care costs and reducing productivity. That is why a growing number of employers are using an EAP to tackle this problem head-on. EAPs counselors can:
· Screen for dangerous behaviors associated with substance abuse
· Educate employees about the health consequences of substance use
* Refer employees for appropriate treatment as needed
“Getting individuals into a treatment program is the first step towards recovery. Staying in the program through completion is the key to overcoming addiction,” according to Apke. “Research has shown that individuals who drop out of treatment relapse and return to substance use. And EAPs have been proven to have the most positive impact on treatment completion.”
According to “TEDS Report: Treatment Outcomes Among Clients Discharged From Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment,” (The TEDS Report, April 23, 2009), individuals referred to treatment by an EAP were the most likely to finish treatment --- nearly twice as likely as those referred by their health care provider:
Referral Source % complete treatment
EAP 49%
Criminal Justice System 43%
Alcohol/Drug Abuse Care Provider 31%
Community Organization/Agency 30%
Self/individual 26%
Health Care Provider 25%
EAP referrals are successful for several reasons. First, EAP Clinicians are trained to conduct assessments and provide referrals to the most appropriate treatment options based on the clinical needs of the EAP participant. Second, follow-up and consistent case management contribute to the success of individuals in treatment. EAP Clinicians take an active role in monitoring and supporting the recovery process.
Bensinger DuPont & Associates (www.bensingerdupont.com) is a privately owned professional services company that is dedicated to promoting healthy outcomes for employees, the workplace, individuals and their families through a wide range of consultation, training and counseling services. For additional information, Marie Apke can be reached at 1-800-227-8620.
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