The CDC reported a record 93,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2020. Though addiction may yield to COVID-19 in the news, this grim number tells that the addiction crisis rages on, exacerbated by the effects of necessary social distancing measures. Understanding the journeys and needs of people with substance use disorders—from diagnosis through ongoing recovery—is critical, particularly for companies that include many such employees, whether or not they share their diagnoses. What investments can help employees access health benefits in a way that gives equal weight to mental and physical health? What measures can ensure that members of the workforce battling addiction receive long-term support, trust, and sensitivity—from organizational leadership on down—to keep working while accessing care with recovery the goal? Experts and employers will discuss how new solutions, mindsets, and approaches can transform the role of the workplace in addressing the addiction and mental-health crises.

Moderator

Sabrina Spitaletta
Senior Director, Milken Institute Center for Public Health

Speakers

Keri Donaldson
Founder and CEO, Solvd Health

Boaz Gaon
Founder and CEO, WISDO Social Health

Jessica Hulsey Nickel
Founder and Executive Director, Addiction Policy Forum

Martha Lawrence
CEO and Co-Founder, AccendoWave

Nora Volkow
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health