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What Is an Employee Assistance Program?

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What Is an Employee Assistance Program?

An Employee Assistance Program can help employed drug addicts get treatment while keeping their jobs

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) reports that Employee Assistance Programs (or EAPs) are common tools that employers use to address problems with drug and alcohol abuse. EAPs all have distinctive features that set them apart from prevention strategies used in other settings, but their goal is to prevent loss of employment while they assure that employed people continue their careers and productivity without interruption. Thus, EAPs can prevent both employers and the employees from suffering the costly consequences of job loss.

Early in the development of the EAP model, researchers proposed that such programs would ideally operate by primarily attracting “self-referrals” rather than “coerced referrals.” In other words, people who proposed this idea suggested that addicts would admit their struggles to their employers if the employers offered financial help for recovery and job safety upon the addict completing rehab. Given that denial and resistance are common barriers to alcohol treatment, this concept seemed unusual, but the people behind EAPs suggested that the significant rates of self-referral would increase the program’s credibility by demonstrating “consumer confidence.” Data at face value indicates that this ideal appears to have been achieved: nearly all reports generated about EAP usage indicate a predominance of self-referrals over referrals made at the request/demand of others.

What Type of Services Can EAPs Help Facilitate for Employees?

As worksite-based programs, EAPs help employees identify and resolve personal concerns that affect job performance as well as overall quality of life. Through prevention, identification and resolution of these issues, these programs enhance employee and workplace effectiveness, and they are vital tools for maintaining and improving the health and productivity of workers while they also help retain valued employees. These programs also return employees to work after they recover from illnesses or injuries. As identified by the Department of Labor (DOL), EAP services include the following list:

  • Mental health-related services and referrals
  • Drug and alcohol-related services and referrals
  • Services and referrals related to personal issues, such as divorce and parenting
  • Information on work and life support, such as caregiving for elderly parents and financial planning
  • Wellness and health promotion services, such as smoking cessation and weight reduction
  • Work-related supports like career counseling

EAP offers the following services to organizations:

  • Education on handling mental health, stress and addictions in the workplace
  • Addressing workplace violence
  • Safety and emergency preparedness
  • Guidance on communicating in difficult situations, such as mergers, layoffs or when employees die on the job
  • Absence management
  • Meeting needs of specific workers, such as returning veterans

Many employers are currently integrating services and resources to support overall employee physical and mental health. Furthermore, modern employers are expanding EAP services to include disease management and preventive health, and they are coordinating with a broad range of other human resource initiatives to promote the health of employers.

Do EAPs Help Business?

Employers have found that proactive, preventive efforts for employees make financial and business sense, because these programs help employees identify and resolve personal issues before they have serious medical, family and/or workplace consequences. The NCADD states that, of an estimated 14.8 million Americans who use illegal drugs, about three out of four are currently employed. As a result, alcohol and drug problems cost employers $81 billion annually. Substance abuse disorders can cause the following problems at work:

  • Effects of substance abuse and withdrawal symptoms can hinder job performance
  • Preoccupation with obtaining and using substances while at work will interfere with attention and concentration
  • Illegal activities at work may include selling illegal drugs to other employees
  • Psychological or stress-related effects due to drug use by a family member, friend or co-worker can affect another person’s job performance

Furthermore, EAPs have been shown to contribute to the following problems:

  • Decreased absenteeism
  • Reduced accidents and fewer workers compensation claims
  • Greater employee retention
  • Fewer labor disputes
  • Significantly reduced medical costs that arise from early identification and treatment of individual mental health and substance use issues

EAPs are unique in that they help employees, their families and employers as a whole.

Employers’ EAP Focus: Employees with Longer Careers

The DOL reports that employers are increasingly recognizing an opportunity to reach young employees with EAP services, particularly in mental health. Compared to older workers, younger employees seem to worry less about stigma when asking for help on mental health and substance use issues, so they approach EAPs much as they would other resources they need to succeed in their jobs. They also seem more familiar with mental health issues and have often already searched online for information before they call EAPs.

Ergo, if a substance use disorder or other mental illness affects your ability to work and you are concerned about retaining your job, then learn for yourself why our services stand out. Federally funded research studies promote our treatment approach, whether that be outpatient, inpatient or short/long-term residential care. In fact, those studies show that our clients are twice as likely to experience continued sobriety after one year of treatment compared to the national average of traditional programs. Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day at a toll-free helpline; they can answer your questions and connect you with treatment now. Is today a good day to regain control of your life and to secure your future career? We care…and we can help.


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