COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced the launch of the Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace program. Led by the Governor’s RecoveryOhio initiative, the new program is designed to create job opportunities for people in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental health condition, combat stigma surrounding addiction and mental illness in the workplace, and provide a boost to Ohio businesses.

Companies that implement recovery-friendly practices as part of their everyday operations and core values will be able to earn the official designation as an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace.

“The new Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace program has the power to transform lives by offering meaningful work for people looking to get back on their feet and by providing additional support systems for current employees,” said Governor DeWine. “I’m calling on all Ohio businesses to implement recovery-friendly practices and earn this designation today. Together, we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, while making our people, our economy, and our communities all stronger.”

To qualify as an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, businesses have many options for the types of practices they can implement. One example is creating policies that support hiring people in recovery and working with their local Mental Health and Recovery Board to share job opportunities.

“We know that, for people in recovery, having a stable job brings a sense of pride and responsibility that often helps them maintain their recovery,” said RecoveryOhio Director Aimee Shadwick. “But people currently in recovery are only the tip of the iceberg of who will benefit from this program. To achieve Governor DeWine’s vision for a brighter future for all Ohioans, it’s also important that we support the great number of current employees who are struggling with addiction or mental illness in silence.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the majority of adults with an addiction are employed. In Ohio, the most recent full year of data shows that 19.2% of Ohio adults – over 1.7 million people – reported having a substance use disorder. In the same timeframe, 9.2% of Ohio adults – over 469,000 people – said they had experienced serious thoughts of suicide.

The Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace program also encourages businesses to provide support systems that help employees feel comfortable requesting help if they are dealing with addiction or mental health challenges. Some examples include:

Training leaders to identify signs of substance use and encouraging them to help employees seek treatment.

Offering access to life-saving naloxone and training staff on how to use it in an emergency.

Providing mental health and wellness education programs for employees.

Promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to employees.

“By supporting those who are struggling, we can create an Ohio where everyone feels comfortable asking for the help they need to reach their full potential,” said Governor DeWine. “At the same time, we also know that companies that invest in recovery-friendly practices see significant economic benefits as well.”

The cost of employees battling a substance use disorder can be high for business when factoring in increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and time lost to unexpected absences or retraining due to turnover. However, research from the National Safety Council shows that every employee who recovers from a substance use disorder saves their company an average of over $8,500.

Interested businesses can learn more about the program, its benefits, how to request the designation, and more ideas for recovery-friendly practices they can bring to their businesses by visiting: RecoveryFriendlyWorkplace.MHA.Ohio.gov.

Governor DeWine announced the new program Friday during a ceremony at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. The Governor was joined for the ceremony by Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus and Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the library. Hamilton County launched their own local recovery-friendly workplace program two years ago. The library is one of dozens of local businesses participating in the program. During Friday’s event, Brehm-Heeger announced that the library is in the process of being among the first participants of the statewide program.

Businesses across the state have already expressed interest in earning the new Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace designation. Tina Thornton, Associate Vice President of Wellbeing and Safety at Columbus-based Nationwide, also spoke Friday and announced that Nationwide is the first business in the state to earn the new Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace designation.

Also in attendance was Amanda Hall, an individual in recovery who was initially hired at Cincinnati-based JBM Packaging through a “fair chance” program. JBM Packaging is also now part of the Hamilton County Recovery Friendly program. In the time since, Amanda has risen through the ranks, being promoted to the position of Talent Acquisition and Training Specialist.

Additional support for the Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace program will be provided by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

About RecoveryOhio

RecoveryOhio works to improve mental health and addiction services in Ohio by providing access to resources and support for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders. Visit RecoveryOhio.gov for more information.