Karen Kitchen

The total loss to employers due to drug use, both legal and illegal, is estimated at $120 billion annually. According to a New York Times article, workplace insurers spend an estimated $1.4 billion annually on legal prescription narcotic painkillers alone. However, painkillers cost them much more than the price of those drugs, much of it Read more »

When most of us think of people with drug problems, we tend to imagine those who are addicted to illegal drugs that are purchased on the black market like heroin or cocaine. Many businesses go to great lengths, like paying for background checks and drug testing, to avoid hiring people who have illegal drug habits. Read more »

People take pain medication for many conditions, and in most cases their use of painkillers is legitimate. However, employers need to be aware that some workers may end up abusing their prescription medication. The reasons why someone may abuse a painkiller are complex, but the addiction presents real dangers to both the employee and employer. Read more »

For the past few decades, America has had a serious problem with opiate pain medication abuse. What began as an effective way for people to manage chronic pain has turned into a nightmare of addiction and overdoses. For many American’s the allure of the high from opiate based painkillers was too much to let go Read more »

Since the 1990’s painkiller use in America has been on the rise, especially those that are opiate based. It is now easier than ever to get an opioid prescription from a doctor. The pressure for medical professionals to treat patients as customers and focus on customer service rather than medical treatment has made doctors more Read more »

The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes synthetic marijuana varieties like Spice and K-2 as herbal mixtures that also contain chemicals that bring on effects that are supposed to closely mimic those of marijuana. NIDA goes on to say that while these substances, described as designer drugs, may sound like a safe alternative to traditional Read more »

Re-branding is nothing new in the business world; the practice simply gives a fresh identity to an old product. But when it comes to designer drugs like Spice, K-2 and the latest product on the scene called Flakka, re-branding is the way the manufacturers get around laws aimed at banning these substances. That is because Read more »

Narcotics are a class of drugs that typically blunt the senses, including but not limited to the sensation of pain. Opioids, such as morphine and derivatives (such as hydrocodone)are becoming increasingly popular outpatient prescription treatments for chronic pain. These medications used to be uncommonly prescribed to outpatients for only the most severe chronic pain, such Read more »