Connecticut State Senators Move To Classify Addiction As Occupational Disease

Democratic Senators Seek To Make Addiction Occupational Disease

Earlier this week, state senators in Connecticut held a press conference to announce what they believe could be a groundbreaking piece of legislation for those struggling with addiction. During the press conference, Democratic Senators Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, and Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, announced their intent to pass legislation classifying substance use disorders (SUD) as an occupational disease, meaning workers with a SUD would be legally entitled to workers compensation benefits and other legal protections.

As the senators unveiled their bold plan, Anwar told a story of a worker being injured on the job and subsequently being treated by a doctor and prescribed opioid pain medication. Over time, this worker became addicted, which then spiraled out of control and cost the employee their job and, ultimately, their life.

“This is a vicious cycle and before you know it, they are dependent on these medications, highly addictive chemicals, and then they are seeking heroin and other things,” Anwar said. “This is an occupational disease, and this is preventable.”

Anwar and Hochadel said they hope to put forward a bill during the 2025 legislative session.

Rethinking Addiction As An Occupational Disease

Classifying substance use disorders as an occupational disease would hold employers responsible for treatment, as the condition would be considered a result of employment. While it’s straightforward to link opioid addiction to a prescription for job-related pain, extending this classification to all substance use disorders, including alcohol and drugs like cocaine, presents a more complex challenge.

Kyle Zimmer, the health and safety director for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478, who was also present at the press conference, says reclassifying addiction as an occupational disease is key to fighting the addiction crisis. “As we started digging and learning about what’s going on, talking to members, talking to employers, alcohol is still the number one substance of misuse in the United States, so it’s all intertwined and it even comes back to mental health. It’s all intertwined and it should really all be looked at as one.”

“People are recognizing this as an issue,” Zimmer said. “It is a safety issue. People go into work impaired; it’s costing labor and it’s costing management huge amounts of money in lost time, insurance costs, replacing somebody who is either disabled or God-forbid a fatal injury on the job site. And it’s happened. I’m sick and tired of burying fellow tradespeople.”

The Impact Of Addiction On The Workforce

For many, one of the biggest sources of stress in life is their job. Whether it’s long hours, physical strain, discrimination, or other factors, work can be highly stressful. Unfortunately, this stress can become overwhelming for some, leading them to turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism.

There is no shortage of data that shows the link between occupational stress and substance abuse. According to data collected by the National Safety Council and NORC at the University of Chicago, careers like mining, oil rigging, and construction, all of which are male-dominated fields, have the highest rates of substance abuse.

Careers involving physical labor and hazardous conditions are often linked to addiction. However, the restaurant service industry also has the second-highest rate of addiction, leading to increased absenteeism and employer costs. According to the report, “workers with SUDs have higher rates of absenteeism than their co-workers, missing over a week-and-a-half more than their peers annually (24.6 days versus 15 days, respectively).”

“Employers can lower their business costs and improve the health of their workers by investing in substance use screening and treatment,” say the authors of the report. “Workers who are successfully treated and who have not had an SUD in the last 12 months use less health care, are less likely to take unscheduled leave and are much less likely to have had more than one employer in the last year. That adds up to an average savings of $8,543 per worker compared to a worker with an untreated SUD.”

Moving Forward, National Legislation Is Needed

For workers in Connecticut, a piece of legislation that would reclassify addiction as an occupational disease is a major win. However, this type of legislation could benefit all Americans.

Addiction affects everyone, not just the person who is struggling. Lost productivity, impaired working, and absenteeism can all cause more work for other employees or hazardous working conditions.

Treatment for addiction is not something that should cost someone their job. Occupational stress is a leading cause of stress for Americans. A survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that 63% of people report work as a leading cause of stress in their lives.

We know that stress plays a significant role in not only the formation of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, but also substance use disorders. Data collected by the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly 25% of adults aged 18 or older (or 58.7 million people) suffered from some type of mental illness within the previous year.

“Once we recognize this as an occupational disease, all the laws that apply to occupational disease will be a part of it. It could include prevention and treatment and workers comp.” Anwar said.

Find Help Today

Working can be an all-too-common source of stress for many. Occupational stress can also be a major factor in poor mental health or substance abuse issues. If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with occupational stress, don’t wait to reach out for help. To learn more about how you can receive treatment for an addiction while employed, contact a treatment provider today for free.