Experient Health Offers Resources for Preventing Substance Abuse Among Employees
Richmond, VA (PRWEB) March 12, 2014 -- Substance abuse is the unhealthy use of alcohol, drugs or other substances that negatively interfere with a person’s functioning or well-being, both at home and at work. Experient Health, in its "Workplace Wellness" Blog series, highlighted resources businesses have to be part of the prevention of substance abuse.
"People can experience the negative effects of substance abuse in their physical or emotional well-being, significant relationships, educational achievements, financial situation and in other parts of their lives. Substance abuse problems also affect productivity, workplace safety and health care costs," Experient Health wrote.
Experient Health is a Richmond, Va.-based health insurance company and uses its web site and Blog to help educate the community on everything from health care reform to ways to live well to explanations of health care services.
Employers should consider offering resources to help prevent substance abuse for the health and public safety reasons, but also because alcohol and substance misuse or abuse by employees can have serious ramifications for employers. Employees with substance abuse problems are absent more often, have lower productivity and poor work performance, are more susceptible to injury due to accidents and may have higher health care costs.
"Luckily, employers can play an important role in lowering the social and financial burden of substance abuse and guiding the development of a healthy and productive workforce," Experient Health wrote "Employers should consider whether official policy, sanctioned activities or common practices are the best method to create a culture that embraces prevention supports healthy lifestyles."
The best approach may be a combination of strategies.
Read more about possible strategies, and resources available to employers here.
Resources for preventing substance abuse can include, among other recommendations, materials and messages about substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery with brochures, fact sheets, payroll stuffers, intranet, health fairs, posters and signs; resources for self-screening; information about the appropriate disposal of prescription medications, including locations of prescription drug disposal drop-off areas in your community; and creation of policies that provide guidance to supervisors on signs or indicators of substance abuse issues and improve their skills to intervene or supervise an employee who is experiencing or in recovery from substance abuse.
ABOUT EXPERIENT HEALTH:
For years, Experient Health, a Virginia Farm Bureau company, has helped people find the right insurance coverage and get the most for their health care dollars. The Richmond, Va.-based group is dedicated to providing high quality health insurance options to customers in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. As a result, its consultants, with an average of more than 20 years experience, are intimately familiar with the states’ provider networks, products and regulations.
Representing the top national insurance carriers, Experient Health provides customers with multiple policy options designed to meet wellness needs and financial requirements.
Experient Health grew out of Virginia Farm Bureau and is a “hometown agency” in that it operates a network of more than 100 offices. However, it boasts the resources and technology of larger firms.
Consultants are available online, via phone and through their offices.
Learn more at http://www.experienthealth.com, utilize the online health insurance quote calculator or contact a consultant directly at 855.677.6580.
Stephanie Heinatz, Consociate Media, +1 (757) 713-2199, [email protected]
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