August Is Overdose Awareness Month: A Time to Remember, Educate, and Strengthen Your Drug-Free Workplace
Every August, organizations across the country recognize Overdose Awareness Month, culminating with International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. This observance is an opportunity to remember those whose lives have been lost to overdose, support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder, reduce stigma, and encourage conversations that can save lives.
For employers, August also serves as an important reminder to evaluate the health and effectiveness of your Drug-Free Workplace Program. A strong program is more than a written policy—it's an ongoing commitment to employee safety, education, and well-being.
The Reality of Drug Overdose in America
While there is encouraging news, the overdose crisis continues to impact families, communities, and workplaces across the nation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Approximately 69,973 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2025, representing a 13.9% decrease from the previous year.
This marks the third consecutive year of declining overdose deaths, demonstrating that prevention, education, and access to treatment are making a positive difference.
Despite this progress, overdose remains one of the nation's leading causes of preventable death.
Nearly seven out of every ten overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids, primarily illegally manufactured fentanyl.
Many overdose deaths involve multiple substances, including opioids combined with stimulants such as methamphetamine or cocaine.
Every statistic represents a person—a family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker. That's why awareness and prevention remain so important.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Overdose Prevention.
Substance misuse doesn't stay outside the workplace. It can affect every aspect of an organization, including:
Workplace safety
Productivity and performance
Attendance and reliability
Decision-making
Team morale
Healthcare expenses
Workers' compensation costs
An effective Drug-Free Workplace Program is not about punishment—it's about creating a culture where employees understand expectations, know where to find help, and can work in a safe and healthy environment.
August Is the Perfect Time to Review Your Drug-Free Workplace Program
Take this opportunity to evaluate your current program by asking:
Is our Drug-Free Workplace Policy current and legally compliant?
Have all employees received annual education on substance misuse?
Are supervisors trained to recognize and properly document reasonable suspicion?
Do employees know where to go for help if they or a family member are struggling?
Are our post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing procedures up to date?
Does our workplace culture encourage employees to seek help before a crisis occurs?
Even a brief annual review can strengthen your program and demonstrate your organization's commitment to safety.
Many leaders hesitate to discuss substance misuse because they fear saying the wrong thing. The reality is that a simple, supportive conversation can make a meaningful difference.
Managers don't need to be counselors. Their role is to reinforce workplace expectations while letting employees know support is available.
Consider sharing messages like these during a safety meeting or team huddle:
"Our priority is keeping everyone safe. If you or someone you know is struggling, confidential resources are available."
"This month we're reviewing our Drug-Free Workplace Program because protecting our employees is one of our highest priorities."
"Asking for help is a sign of strength. We want every employee to know they have resources available before a problem becomes a crisis."
When talking about substance use, use respectful, person-first language. Instead of labels such as "addict" or "drug abuser," say:
Person with a substance use disorder
Person in recovery
Employee seeking treatment
Reducing stigma encourages people to seek help sooner—and that can save lives.
Five Ways to Observe Overdose Awareness Month at Work
Review and update your Drug-Free Workplace Policy.
Conduct a workplace safety meeting focused on substance misuse awareness.
Remind employees about available support resources and benefits.
Provide supervisors with refresher training on reasonable suspicion and documentation.
Reinforce your organization's commitment to safety, health, and employee well-being.
If your organization doesn't currently offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), now is the perfect time to consider this valuable benefit. An EAP provides confidential professional support for employees and their immediate family members who may be facing challenges such as:
Substance use concerns
Mental health issues
Stress and anxiety
Family or relationship challenges
Financial and legal concerns
Grief and loss
Work-life balance
Many employers are surprised to learn that an Employee Assistance Program costs just pennies per employee per day, making it one of the most affordable and impactful benefits an organization can offer.
When employees receive help early, organizations often experience:
Reduced absenteeism
Improved productivity
Lower healthcare and workers' compensation costs
Increased employee engagement
Better retention
A safer, healthier workplace
An EAP also strengthens your Drug-Free Workplace Program by giving supervisors a trusted resource when employees need assistance. It reinforces an important message: your organization cares about its people while maintaining a safe, productive workplace.
Ask yourself one simple question:
If one of your employees needed help today, would they know where to turn?
An Employee Assistance Program helps answer that question—and may be one of the best investments you can make in your workforce.
The encouraging decline in overdose deaths reminds us that education, prevention, treatment, and support are making a difference. Employers have an important role to play by creating workplaces where employees feel informed, supported, and empowered to seek help when they need it.
This August, take time to:
Review your Drug-Free Workplace Policy.
Educate your employees.
Train your supervisors.
Promote available resources.
Consider adding an Employee Assistance Program if you don't already offer one.
A strong Drug-Free Workplace Program isn't simply about compliance—it's about protecting lives.
Because every life matters. Every conversation matters. Every workplace can make a difference.
At Working Partners®, we believe every employer deserves access to high-quality Drug-Free Workplace resources without the high cost. Through the Working Partners® Consortium Membership Program, employers pay one affordable annual membership fee to gain access to a network of trusted, vetted providers and valuable workplace solutions. Consortium members receive preferred access to services including drug and alcohol testing, supervisor and employee training, policy development, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), compliance resources, and much more—all designed to help organizations create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.
Whether you're enhancing an existing Drug-Free Workplace Program or implementing one for the first time, Working Partners® is your trusted partner, providing the expertise, resources, and support you need to promote workplace safety, maintain compliance, and invest in the well-being of your employees.
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