1. What Survey Data Is Saying

2. Introduction
Employees in every industry are grappling with substance use disorders – as individuals, family members, and friends. To demonstrate the breadth of this problem, we compiled data from multiple different sources: national surveys, a Massachusetts survey, and a survey of employees here at Boston Medical Center. Key findings from these surveys are shared here.
Find the following headlines inside:
National Survey Highlights
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Survey Highlights
Boston Medical Center Survey Highlights

3. National Survey Highlights
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Survey Highlights
Boston Medical Center Survey Highlights

4. Alcohol and Illicit drug use are the two leading contributors
Substance use disorders directly affected an estimated 20.2m adults in 2014
NATIONAL DATA
Alcohol and Illicit drug use are the two leading contributors
Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2014.

5. A POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll found that the opioid epidemic is perceived as a major problem by most
NATIONAL DATA
The Public’s Views About How Much of a Problem Opioid Abuse Is in the Country
Source: POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Public’s Priorities for Congress and President Trump in the Post-Thanksgiving Period, November 15 – 19, Base: U.S. adults.

6. Fewer than half of employers are confident in their policies
A National Safety Council survey of HR professionals found employers have low confidence in their policies on prescription drug use
NATIONAL DATA
Fewer than half of employers are confident in their policies
Source: National Safety Council, Prescription Drugs & The US Workforce, January Base: 501 HR Professionals.

7. National Survey Highlights
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Survey Highlights
Boston Medical Center Survey Highlights

8. A majority of Massachusetts residents know someone addicted to opioids, and over a quarter know someone who died from an overdose
MASSACHUSETTS DATA
*Blue Cross Blue Shield MA conducted a telephone survey of Massachusetts residents on the opioid epidemic

9. Massachusetts residents are much more likely than other Americans to view the epidemic as a national emergency
MASSACHUSETTS DATA

10. Few are optimistic about the state of Massachusetts effectively addressing the Substance Use Disorder epidemic
MASSACHUSETTS DATA

11. Massachusetts residents give poor ratings for available addiction care and treatment
MASSACHUSETTS DATA

12. National Survey Highlights
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Survey Highlights
Boston Medical Center Survey Highlights

13. In an effort to understand how BMC employees thought about mental health and substance use disorders, BMC conducted an internal survey
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER DATA
BMC heard from 1,476 respondents at all levels of the organization.
Our data set includes many key demographic indicators, among them: race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, marital status and hours of work.

14. Key Survey Findings: Summary of Survey Highlights
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER DATA
30.8 % of employees surveyed had an immediate family member who had experience with a SUD specifically
Between 22% and 38.6% of employees surveyed reported that either they or a family member had experienced depression or anxiety, conditions which are often related to SUD.
However 83.1% of employees surveyed did not know what mental health and/or substance use treatment services their health insurance covered
Of those employees who have used mental health substance use treatment benefits, only 35.7% were satisfied with them.
51.2% of employees said they were very uncomfortable or uncomfortable speaking with their supervisor about mental health or substance use issues they were experiencing
Top two reasons for not speaking to a manager were: concerns about confidentiality and fear of missing out on possible career advancement

15. Key Survey Findings: Summary of the most powerful themes
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER DATA
Make confidentiality a priority
Fear is a driving force
Address the full spectrum of Substance Use Disorder
From prevention to recovery
Take a clear and incontrovertible stand
Communicate a clear broadly and deeply
Suspend judgment and stigma
Position and leverage managers as the most critical resource
Instill accountability provide education and training
Understand what people are saying the core issues are
Stress and anxiety may be a more critical area to address that SUDs
Clarify and educate everyone on available resources and support
Benefits, programs
Shift the culture one step at a time