High rates of substance use disorder in hospitality industry highlighted by Wolf administration
Health. State officials stressed how the demands of hospitality work have been conducive to substance use disorder, and employees and employers should be educated about how to prevent and address the problem.
| 04 Jan 2023 | 08:25
Michael Chapaloney, Executive Director of Tourism with DCED, spoke during a press conference at C&J Catering to highlight available substance use disorder (SUD) resources for Pennsylvania employers and employees in the restaurant and hospitality industry in an effort to reduce the impact of the opioid overdose epidemic among that specific population of workers, in Middletown on Jan. 4.
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) joined C&J Catering employees this week to discuss substance use disorder (SUD) in the restaurant and hospitality industries, highlighting the importance of SUD education and prevention for employees and employers.
“Just below the construction and mining industries, the restaurant industry has a high rate of substance use disorder among its employees,” said DDAP Special Assistant to the Secretary Steve Ross. “Long, irregular hours and high-pressure, physically demanding work can all have an impact on an individual’s behavioral health. We must ensure that employers and employees know about every resource available to them to support individuals living with the disease of addiction. It is also critical to keep providing education to all employers and all Pennsylvanians to address the stigma still faced by those who are struggling with substance use disorder.”