At , a sandwich shop in Denver, recovery from drug and alcohol use is part of daily operations.
鈥淪eventy percent of our staff is active in recovery,鈥� Cliff Blauvelt, co-owner of Odie B鈥檚, said . 鈥淲e try to provide a safe space where people can feel comfortable.鈥�
Blauvelt has struggled with alcohol use for more than 20 years. He co-owns Odie B鈥檚 with his wife, Cara Blauvelt.
One employee, Molly, said working at Odie B鈥檚 helped her focus on sobriety and reconnect with her sense of purpose.
鈥淚 was burned out, I was working a lot of hours. 鈥� I started dry January, and after a few months I realized I needed to quit drinking,鈥� she said in the same video testimonial. 鈥淐ara definitely helped with my sobriety journey, just reminding me one day at a time, and now, I have been sober for going on two years.鈥�
Colorado is one of that have launched recovery-friendly workplace programs in recent years. They鈥檙e part of a growing effort to reframe how employers address addiction, mental health and recovery for the well-being of their employees and businesses.
Our team from the at the works with employers to develop training guidelines and policies to help make their workplaces supportive of recovery.
Over the past three years, we鈥檝e worked to understand the tools employers need to better support employees with substance use disorders.
Many are deeply motivated but lack formal policies or training. That gap is what the is designed to fill.
Since 2021, our team has developed and delivered recovery and mental health training to more than 8,000 Colorado employees. They represent more than 100 businesses in industries ranging from local government to construction companies and health care providers. Our training sessions focus on equipping individuals with an understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, explaining how to combat stigma, and outlining how to navigate accommodations in the workplace.
The toll of addiction
Substance use is not just a personal issue; it鈥檚 a public health and workforce challenge.
In 2023, died from a drug overdose, according to data from the . That鈥檚 up about 65 deaths from the previous year. Nationally, overdose deaths since 2015.
In high-risk industries, such as construction and mining, where physically demanding work, long hours and job insecurity are common, workers have some of the . These workers are thus at a high risk of developing substance use disorders.
They also face other mental health challenges. These same sectors face across all occupations and .
Recovery, as defined by the , a federal agency, includes 鈥渁 process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.鈥� In Colorado, an estimated . Many of them are working, raising families and rebuilding their lives.
The economic impact of substance use is significant. Colorado has lost more than to opioid use over the past decade, according to the , a nonprofit that conducts economic analyses. That鈥檚 the equivalent of 173,000 full-time jobs for one year.
In 2017 alone, the cost of lost productivity due to opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose in .
Employers save an average of for each employee in recovery, according to the . These savings come from lower health care costs, reduced absenteeism and decreased turnover. In other words, when employers retain and support workers through recovery rather than lose them to untreated substance use, they see measurable benefits.
A shifting policy landscape
In 2024, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill for . The legislation provided funding to establish the Recovery Friendly Workplaces Initiative and the voluntary employer participation and certification program.
In early 2025, funding for the initiative was removed from the state budget due to . The funding cut disrupted many of our planned activities, and we are currently relying on interim support from counties and state offices.
Looking ahead
Small businesses remain a priority for our team, despite recent funding cuts. Many lack human resources departments or formal wellness programs but are nonetheless deeply committed to helping their employees succeed.
A Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initative participant, , employs 39 people. Absolute has championed recovery-friendly policies as something the business values.
鈥淭his partnership saves us time and resources, which is invaluable for our small, family-owned business,鈥� said Sarah Deering, vice president of the company.
The road ahead presents challenges, including limited funding, the societal stigma around recovery and all of the complexities of recovery itself. But we continue to follow the scientific evidence. Our research team is evaluating the outcomes of our programs to better understand their impact and hopefully inform future policy recommendations. We are committed to the belief that work can and should be a place of healing.
is an assistant professor for the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
is a research associate at the Center for Health, Work & Environment, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Liliana Tenney and Olivia Zarella receive funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.