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Workers Using Prescription Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines Can Face Safety and Health Risks

The opioid crisis that faces the nation has a great impact on workers and NIOSH has a comprehensive program to address opioids in workers. One issue of concern is workers who use prescription opioids and/or benzodiazepines for medically appropriate reasons. Workers who use either prescription opioids or benzodiazepines or a combination of prescriptions for both Read More >

October 26, 2018 by Sudha P. Pandalai, MD, PhD, and Paul A. Schulte, PhDLeave a comment

Opioids

Labor Day Message from NIOSH Director, John Howard, MD

More than just a “day off,” Labor Day provides us a moment to pause and reflect on the efforts and sacrifice all men and women across the nation have worked through to keep this country moving, day and night, contributing to the economic and material well-being of its inhabitants. NIOSH’s mission has been and will Read More >

August 31, 2018 by John Howard, MD2 Comments

black lung, Construction, Falls, Observances, Oil and Gas, Opioids, Robotics

Fentanyls and the Safety of First Responders: Science and Recommendations

The severity of the opioid epidemic is well-documented. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that drug overdose deaths in the United States more than tripled from 1999 to 2015.[1] From 2015 to 2016, opioid overdose deaths increased by more than 20 percent—rising from 52,898 in 2016 to 64,070 deaths in Read More >

June 26, 2018 by John Howard, MD, and Jennifer Hornsby-Myers, MS, CIH2 Comments

Drugs, Opioids

Workers Memorial Day 2018: Statement from Dr. John Howard

Every year on April 28th, we observe Workers Memorial Day, remembering those workers who have been killed or injured on the job. This is also an opportunity to reflect on how we, as a federal research institute, and our partners in industry, labor, academia and the safety and health practice community, can contribute to making Read More >

April 27, 2018 by John Howard, MD2 Comments

black lung, Drugs, Fishing, Observances, Opioids

Fentanyl Exposure Risks for Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Workers

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic drug that is similar to morphine and heroin, but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Fentanyl and its analogs, such as carfentanil, can pose a potential hazard to law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and firefighters who could come into contact with these drugs through the course of their work Read More >

June 22, 2017 by Jennifer Hornsby-Myers, MS, CIH; G. Scott Dotson, PhD, CIH; and Deborah Hornback, MS 20 Comments

Dermal Exposure, Drugs, Emergency Response/Public Sector, Law Enforcement, Opioids, Respiratory Health

The Opioid Overdose Epidemic and the Workplace

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released troubling statistics on the growing epidemic of drug and opioid overdose deaths in the United States. The origins of this epidemic have been linked to prescription opioids. While it is unknown how many drug and opioid overdose deaths are associated with workplace injuries and Read More >

December 21, 2015 by Dawn Castillo, MPH and John Howard, MD37 Comments

Drugs, Opioids, Workers' Compensation

A NIOSH Role in Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention

*NCCI has released new data since the posting of this blog. Recent workers’ compensation studies reveal controlled substances accounted for 29% of prescription drug costs in 2014. Prescription drug abuse and overdoses are a major public health concern (Health, United States 2013). The CDC reports that opioid overdose deaths in particular have quadrupled since 1999, Read More >

May 14, 2014 by John Howard, MD and Steve Wurzelbacher, PhD, CPE, ARM 39 Comments