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Employers at the Intersection of Public Health and Public Safety

Public Health at the Milken Institute

Connecting resources. Catalyzing solutions. Building meaningful lives.

发布日期: 2024年6月11日

Imagine someone you know experiencing pain and taking a pill they thought was safe that, in fact, contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. Deaths from illicit drug poisonings are killing Americans at an unprecedented rate and are now a leading cause of death in Americans ages 18 to 45. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the 12-month period ending in June 2023, estimates that 112,323 Americans died from drug poisonings in the United States, for which approximately 70 percent involved fentanyl. To visually capture the magnitude of this number, this is more people than any college football stadium can hold at maximum capacity.

The counterfeit pills flooding our communities are mass-produced by the drug cartels and are so well-made that they are nearly indiscernible, even to experts, from the legitimate pills manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. This is particularly alarming as, per the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 7 out of 10 counterfeit pills contain lethal doses of fentanyl. A lethal dose of fentanyl is considered only two milligrams, which is equal to about five to seven grains of table salt. These deaths are a national public health crisis that directly and indirectly impacts all of us.

In mid-April, the Public Health team at the Milken Institute held a briefing, “Employers at the Intersection of Public Health and Public Safety,” as part of the Employer Action Exchange. The briefing was hosted by Frank A. Tarentino III, special agent in charge of the DEA’s New York Division. The briefing brought together employers and leaders from health care, finance, consulting, sports, public health, education, entertainment, nonprofit, and government to explore the intersections of public safety and public health and understand the risks posed by global illicit financing and synthetic drugs. Concluding the briefing, there was a customized lab tour where attendees were able to speak to and learn from DEA chemists about drugs that have been seized in local communities across the Northeast. This article highlights the remarks shared by both the DEA and stakeholders during the briefing, including three key priorities that emerged: fostering trust, a whole-of-society approach, and prevention through education.

Fostering Trust: Building Connections across Generations and Communities

One of the themes emphasized throughout the briefing was that both public health and public safety prioritize people first and intersect around a shared goal of prioritizing people’s well-being—from the security and safety of their families and neighborhoods to their physical and mental health. Leveraging partners who are trusted sources and messengers, and advancing people-centered approaches through consistent communication and transparency are critical to fulfilling the missions of both entities. ?

According to PwC’s 2024 Trust Survey, 67 percent of employees surveyed say they highly trust their employer. Employers are a trusted institution, meaning employers of all sizes, sectors, and industries have a critical role in building connections and sharing evidence-informed resources that can help improve public health. Employers have a vested interest in the health and safety of their workforces and the communities in which they operate. By understanding the drug threats that impact their employees and their families, employers can anticipate needs and share critical drug prevention resources, both internally and in the communities where they operate.

Whole-of-Society Approach: Partnering for Collective Impact

The Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels are two criminal networks whose operations have global reach. These networks, which bring in half a trillion dollars per year, are responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs that took an estimated 112,323 American lives in the 12-month period ending in June 2023 alone. For comparison, the top 10 global Fortune 500 companies accounted for $689.8 billion in profits in 2023, according to Lane Report.

Given the sophisticated and expansive nature of the cartels’ operations, and that they have weaponized social media as a marketplace for their products, defeating these criminal networks will require a collaborative network of public health and public safety efforts across all communities. For a more in-depth look at the illicit drug threats impacting the United States, please refer to the DEA's 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment. Simply put, we do not have the luxury of looking away as our families, friends, and colleagues are poisoned.

As discussed in BMJ Global Health, this crisis impacts every one of us and compels us all to work together to address it through a whole-of-society approach that engages not only government agencies but all relevant stakeholders. As a trusted source, employers can join the effort alongside faith-based and community organizations, the media, and government entities to raise public awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit pills and help reduce drug poisoning deaths.

Prevention through Education: Action Steps for Employers?

Employers are uniquely positioned to reach employees, their families, and the surrounding communities, and can help them access prevention resources (including several linked below) and substance use disorder treatment information. Knowing that counterfeit pills are often purchased via social media platforms, employers have an opportunity to educate their employees—particularly those who are caregivers to youth—regarding the warning signs, code words, and visual symbols that young people might use online. In addition, employers can help caregivers understand why individuals might turn to social media to obtain what they believe to be pharmaceutical products, not realizing that what is delivered is often counterfeit and contains a lethal dose of fentanyl, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains. This knowledge can, in turn, help those employees protect their families and, by extension, the broader community.

Additionally, organizational leaders can set the tone and open lines of communication by using non-stigmatizing language when discussing addiction and substance use disorders, according to the NIH. Leaders have the platform to drive shifts in mindset and workplace culture by integrating Recovery Ready Workplace resources, programs, or policies. Leaders can help employees understand why words and language matter. One example of dismantling stigma is using person-first language and letting individuals choose how they are described. Person-first language maintains the integrity of individuals as whole human beings.

This session emphasized that we all have a role to play in preventing drug poisonings that have robbed so many Americans of their loved ones. Employers have a unique opportunity to serve as critical public health and safety partners. By sharing public health announcements and resources, employers can make a positive impact not just on their employees' health but on the health of the communities in which they operate.