Substance Use Disorder 2020: What a Startup Needs to Know
The American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well despite the great pandemic of 2020! Year to date, almost 500,000 new businesses have been created in the United States. (1) We don’t yet know how many of these new enterprises are venture capital (VC) funded, but in 2019 more than 10,000 companies were funded to the tune of almost $133 billion. Startups tend to employ the best and the brightest of the millennial generation with more than half of start up employees under the age of 30. (2) Unfortunately, the prognosis for most startups isn’t great. 20% fail in the first year alone and only 50% make it to their fifth year. (3) A critical factor to survival is retention of key employees, particularly in tech. The average tenure of startup employees in these sectors is less than one year. (2)
Millennials face many unique generational challenges. The epidemic of substance abuse disorders (SUDs) claimed more than 67,000 lives in 2018 with the greatest number in the 18-25 age group.(4) Record student loan debt has caused many to defer purchase of a home or delay marriage. Financial issues are directly tied to suicide deaths, which are rising in this population. The longer working hours typical in most startups are associated with greater danger of “risky” alcohol use. (5)
Employers must be knowledgeable about the increased risk for SUD and behavioral health disorders in these high-valued employees-a danger which has been significantly augmented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Young adults working in entrepreneurial startups are taking on jobs that are stressful with long and typically unpredictable hours.
Many are working from home because of COVID- 19 putting them at higher risk for isolation and loneliness, which exacerbate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Leaders are less likely to be able to recognize physical or emotional issues in their employees because of “social distancing”.
SUD is often silent disease. Victims fear the stigma often associated with SUD and try to hide it from employers and those within their family/community. The silence is compounded by coronavirus pandemic mandates to isolate.
Leaders can support and retain valued employees at risk for SUD. There is treatment:
If you have employees at risk, make the effort to check in on them frequently and insist on Zoom meetings on camera.
It only takes a few minutes to educate yourself about SUD! View Shatterproof’s Just Five! WEBSITE HERE!
Leaders and all employees need to know that SUD is a disease with evidence-based medical treatment. Destigmatize!
If you suspect an employee may have an alcohol or SUD, set aside time for a non-judgemental, supportive, compassionate conversation. Millennials want to work in a values-based culture- show them you care about them!
References:
The Economist. The number of new businesses in America is booming. Published online 11/18/2020. Published in the US Print Edition, October 10, 2020.
Nisen M, et al. Statistically speaking, what does the average startup look like? The Atlantic.com. December 31, 2004.
Chernev, Bobby. Review42.com. What percentage of startups fail? (67+stats for 2020). Published online 9/10/2020.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Overdose death rates. Drugabuse.gov. March 10,2020.
Virtanen M, et al. Long working hours and alcohol use: systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data. BMJ 2015;350:g7772.
Posted by
Polly Mazanec, PhD, RN
Dan Mazanec, MD