Impact of Opioid Crisis on the Labor Market

The opioid crisis affecting the US is hitting the country on many fronts, including the labor market. Recent data shows that states that prescribe more opioids per 100 people tend to have fewer people in their labor force. West Virginia, a state with one of the highest opioid prescription rates in the country in 2015, had the lowest labor force participation rate in 2018 at 54 percent.

Another example is Alabama, the state with the highest prescription rate, which only had a participation rate of 57 percent. This means that the state has one of the lowest rates of labor force participation in the country. This information suggests that the current opioid crisis is affecting a lot more aspects of the economy than previously thought.

“When you have people who are not taking part in the economic life of the country in a meaningful way, who don’t have the skills and aptitudes to play a role — or are not doing so because they’re addicted to drugs or are in jail — then, in a sense, they are being left behind,” said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

It is interesting to note that states like Minnesota and Colorado, which have two of the highest labor force participation rates in the country, also have low opioid prescription levels. Opioid overdose-related deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, with thousands of people dying every year.

Between 1999 and 2017, these deaths have increased by nearly six times. This is according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Click the link to see White Lake's top rehab placement programs.

Powell acknowledged the opioid crisis’ effect on the US economy, saying that “the opioids crisis is tens of millions of people; they tend to be young males. It’s a very significant problem and it’s part of a larger picture.”

He added that the opioid crisis may be keeping people from obtaining stable jobs. “We have an unusually large number of people in their prime working years who are not in the labor force. The United States has a lower labor force participation rate than almost any other advanced country. That is not our self-image as a country.”

More and more solutions are being developed in order to tackle the many different aspects of the opioid epidemic. These new statistics can help give people more insight into how big the problem really is so that an appropriate answer can be created along the way. For now, addicted individuals are encouraged to seek professional medical assistance, so that they can recover from the effects of opioids safely.

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.