National Recovery Month
Substance use disorder affects people from all walks of life, working in all nature of jobs in businesses of every type and size, in towns and cities across the United States.
The good news is that substance use disorder is treatable and businesses can serve as a significant source of support for people in treatment or recovery. National Recovery Month, observed each September, is a great time to learn how. This year, two new resources from the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) can help.
Supporting Employees with Substance Use Disorder: A Guide for Employers explores proactive strategies businesses can use to prevent or address worker substance use, while A Guide for Workers with Substance Use Disorders: What You Should Know approaches the issue from the worker perspective. Both guides make clear that substance use disorder may be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and offer common accommodations and inclusive workplace practices that businesses can adopt to signal support for employees working toward or in recovery.
The purpose of National Recovery Month is to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to support treatment and recovery practices. People in recovery make important contributions to America’s workplaces and communities every day. For many, meaningful work plays an important role in their continued sobriety—and small businesses can make a big difference in supporting their ongoing success.