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working canadians are increasingly being treated for substance use disorder: how can employers help?

manulife's first-ever employee health report shows increases in substance use disorder treatment claims, showing employers can foster healthier living with the right benefits plans.

by angelica bottaro

published jun 04, 2024

5 minute read

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5 minute read

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new manulife report showcases how employers can play a role in helping those with substance use disorder overcome their disease. getty images

manulife, one of canada’s largest insurance and financial services providers, has released its first-ever employee health report, showing that more people are seeking help for substance use disorder than in previous years. the results of the report, which took data from employee health claims across the country, saw a steep trend in substance use disorder treatment claims. according to the report, there was a 17.2 per cent year-over-year increase in claims related to treating substance use disorder since 2023.

this data shows that people living with substance use disorder in the country are becoming more inclined to reach out for the help they need to overcome the condition.

“the employee health report’s findings of a 17.2 per cent nationwide increase in substance use disorder treatment claims are both revealing and encouraging, indicating that more canadians are acknowledging their struggles and seeking the help they need,” said pavithra ravi, director of group benefits with manulife canada, in an email to healthing. “manulife is here to support these efforts with robust health benefits.”

substance use disorder in canada

substance use disorder is a condition that causes a person to be physically and mentally dependent on the use of illicit, prescription, or legal drugs. it is a complex disease and can range from mild to severe, depending on the drugs used, the frequency at which a person uses them, and the negative effects the use of the drug has on a person’s personal and professional life as well as their emotional and physical health.

various types of substances fall into the category of substance use disorders if they are consumed dangerously or used in a way that harms a person. they can include:

legal drugs, such as cannabis and alcohol
prescription sedatives and stimulations, such as adderall, opioid-based painkillers, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates
prescription drugs for mood disorders, such as anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs
illegal drugs, such as hallucinogens, opioid-based street drugs (heroin), and stimulants (cocaine)
easily accessible psychoactive products not meant for human consumption, such as aerosol sprays, gasses, and paint thinners

roughly 21 per cent of the population, amounting to about six million canadians, will deal with a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

many people living with substance use disorder often develop it as a reaction to an un- or underdiagnosed mental health disorder, according to the report from manulife. the centre for addiction and mental health backs up this claim with data stating that as many as 20 per cent of people with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. those with mood disorders are also twice as likely to develop substance use disorder.

because of that, people who use substances to cope with other health conditions put themselves at further risk for worsened symptoms in both the short- and long-term, as well as adverse physical effects, such as liver damage or the risk of overdose.

seeking help for substance use disorder, as well as other mental health disorders that often accompany it can be challenging for many due to stigma, whether internal or external and barriers to care.

seeking treatment for substance use disorder

according to the canadian centre on substance use and addiction, roughly 1 in 200 canadians sought addiction treatment between the years of 2016 and 2018. those numbers have only amplified, according to the new manulife report.

the report states that the number of people seeking out substance use disorder treatment for alcohol and opioid addiction, based on claims submitted to manulife, has risen by a total of 52 per cent since 2020.

when broken down year-over-year, the data shows spikes in substance use disorder drug claimants by 18.4 per cent, 9.6 per cent, and 17.2 per cent in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. the per cent increase of people seeking help for substance use disorder in the country varies by province:

ontario at 16.4 per cent
quebec at 23.6 per cent
alberta at 19.2 per cent
british columbia by 17 per cent
atlantic canada by 4 per cent
central canada (manitoba and saskatchewan) by 27.3 per cent

these numbers paint a hopeful country-wide picture that many people who have been living with substance abuse are no longer content with being at the mercy of their disease.

“the dramatic year-over-year growth rates, particularly in quebec and central canada, highlight the urgent need for continued investment by employers in mental health and addiction services,” said ravi.

what the numbers mean for employers, employees, and insurance providers

while the onus of substance use disorder treatment doesn’t fall entirely on the back of employers and insurance companies, there is some responsibility to employees in terms of giving them the option and coverage to seek help when they need to.

giving employees a safe space to discuss their affliction is also a top priority when trying to offer assistance because of the stigma that’s so heavily attached to both mood disorders and substance use.

according to the press release from manulife, “canadian employers can play a critical role in supporting the overall health and well-being of their workforce. by leveraging the data and information in the employee health report, employers can implement targeted health and wellness initiatives, like increased coverage for mental health services, voluntary onsite health screenings and clinics, hold wellness seminars and informational sessions, and increase coverage for dietician and nutritional services.”

the report also states that “organizations who prioritize employee health experience a reduction in absenteeism and an increase in overall workforce health,” showing that when employers do more for their employees, they are rewarded with a healthier and more productive and present workforce.

the report calls on employers to review their employee benefits plans to ensure that adequate comprehensive financial coverage is available for mental health so that people can seek treatment with qualified professionals.

with comprehensive coverage, people can access various types of substance use disorder treatment options, including:

detoxification programs
inpatient rehabilitation
outpatient counselling
medication-assisted treatment
post-treatment programs to help avoid relapse

according to the canadian substance use costs and harms 2007-2020 report by the canadian centre on substance use and addiction, when looking at the costs associated with substance use from an entirely professional standpoint, employers lost $22.4 billion in productivity costs in 2020 alone due to substance use disorders, with alcohol leading the charge.

with the increase in people seeking out substance use disorder treatment through their insurance providers, it’s thought that those lost productivity costs will decrease substantially.

the manulife report solidifies this assumption. according to their report, “organizations deemed to have the most effective wellness programs and cultures experience fewer days of lost productivity over the course of the year,” and “employees who work for these organizations are also at lower risk for a range of lifestyle-related health concerns.”

helping canadians with substance use disorder by providing more insurance coverage and options for care is likely to cause the number of people seeking treatment to continue to rise, cultivating a healthier canadian workforce and overall population.

“these results mean we can all do more to help foster healthier canadian lives,” said ashesh desai, head of group benefits for manulife canada, in the press release. well-being is not just beneficial for bottom lines, but essential for employees’ quality of life. with top organizations showing meaningful productivity gains—up to 13 additional days per employee compared to their counterparts—it is clear that investing in employee health can pay off.”

angelica bottaro

angelica bottaro is the lead editor at healthing.ca, and has been content writing for over a decade, specializing in all things health. her goal as a health journalist is to bring awareness and information to people that they can use as an additional tool toward their own optimal health.

working canadians are increasingly being treated for substance use disorder: how can employers help?

manulife's first-ever employee health report shows increases in substance use disorder treatment claims, showing employers can foster healthier living with the right benefits plans.

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working canadians are increasingly being treated for substance use disorder: how can employers help?

manulife's first-ever employee health report shows increases in substance use disorder treatment claims, showing employers can foster healthier living with the right benefits plans.

substance use disorder in canada

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