Opioid Response

OSHA has issued new guidance advising employers how to prepare for and respond to opioid-related overdose emergencies in the workplace, framing overdose preparedness as part of a broader workforce recovery strategy. The guidance, titled Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications, encourages employers to maintain overdose reversal medications, train workers to recognize overdose symptoms, and establish emergency response procedures.

The initiative aligns with the Trump administration's Great American Recovery Initiative, which seeks to increase workforce participation and recovery opportunities for individuals affected by substance use disorders.

The recommendations come as employers increasingly confront issues related to substance use, employee retention, and workforce participation. The newly released guidance is one of the Labor Department's first workplace-focused actions tied directly to addiction recovery efforts under the administration's broader policy agenda. OSHA characterized the fact sheet as practical guidance designed to help workplaces respond effectively when opioid overdoses occur on the job.

Workplace preparedness. OSHA said opioid emergencies can occur in any workplace and that rapid intervention may save lives. The agency's fact sheet recommends that employers keep FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications, including naloxone and nalmefene, available in readily accessible locations. OSHA advised employers to place overdose-response supplies in visible locations comparable to first-aid kits or automated external defibrillators and to ensure workers can identify signs of an overdose, including slow or stopped breathing, blue lips or skin, pinpoint pupils, and unresponsiveness.

The guidance recommends training workers on the use of reversal medications, calling emergency services immediately and providing care until first responders arrive. OSHA said employers should routinely check medication expiration dates and follow storage instructions to ensure readiness during an emergency.

Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said the administration has directed the Labor Department to make recovery part of its workforce strategy, helping individuals return to employment while assisting employers facing labor shortages. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter said workplace familiarity with overdose recognition and reversal is increasingly important because fentanyl has become pervasive throughout the illicit drug supply.

Recovery initiative. The guidance stems from President Donald Trump's January 2026 executive order establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a government-wide effort to coordinate addiction treatment and recovery policies. The executive order states that addiction contributes to declining workforce participation, lost productivity, and other economic costs, and directs federal agencies to support prevention, treatment, recovery and workforce reintegration efforts.

The initiative was created to improve coordination among federal agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and private-sector employers. Among its stated goals are helping more Americans obtain treatment, supporting long-term recovery, and strengthening workforce participation among individuals affected by substance use disorders.

Source: Written by Patricia K. Ruiz, J.D.

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