Our nation's opioid crisis is becoming a growing epidemic intoday's workplaces as well. From absences to decreasedproductivity, opioid abuse is making a big impact on businesses. Infact, opioid abuse costs employers approximately $10 billion fromabsenteeism and presenteeism alone, according to the AmericanSociety of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Of course, employers aren't the only ones hurting from theopioid epidemic. According to a survey from the National Safety Council(NSC), one in four Americans personally knows someone who hasoverdosed or died from an opioid overdose, knows someone who hasbecome addicted to opioids, or has become addicted themselves.

With so many compelling reasons to curb the opioid crisis,employers are in a unique position to take preventative measureswithin the workplace to save more lives. Here are three ways toaddress the opioid crisis in your own workplace:

1. Reevaluate workplace drug policies

Employers should reconsider their current drug-free workplaceprograms and obtain legal counsel to advise on the best practicesto address prescription opioid medication use.

According to a survey from the NSC, an alarming 81% of U.S.employers are missing a critical element to their drug-freeworkplace drug programs. The survey found that several importantelements were missing from workplace drug policies, such asrequiring employees to notify supervisors of prescription drugusage or return to work policies for employees taking impairingmedications.

Related: Insurance coverage for opioidlitigation

There are several important factors for employers to considerwhen re-examining their drug-free workplace programs in light ofthe opioid crisis. From updating drug testing policies to includeprescription drug testing to addressing a suspected opioid abuseproblem with an employee, there are several important issues toconsider and discuss with a legal expert before formalizing a newdrug free workplace program.

2. Train your employees to identify signs of opioid abuse

Unlike alcohol abuse where there are often more obvious signs ofa problem, opioid abuse can be difficult to detect. However, ifleft undetected, it can not only put a person's life in jeopardy,but employers can also put themselves at financial risk due todisability claims, lowered productivity, absenteeism andpresenteeism.

Despite these health and financial concerns, employersnationwide are woefully underprepared to identify warning signs ofopioid abuse among employees.

Only 13% of U.S. employers say they are very confident theirworkers could identify signs of opioid misuse in a co-worker,according to a survey by the NSC. Despite this lack of awareness,only 24% of survey respondents report offering employee training tohelp them identify signs of opioid abuse in the workplace.

Related: How to help employers address opioid addiction inthe workplace

With this in mind, employers should consider hiring an expert toeducate employees on the warning signs of opioid abuse. Theseexperts can conduct a workshop, webinar or another form of trainingto educate human resource professionals and other employees in theworkplace on this important topic.

3. Offer medication collection services

Many experts believe one of the biggest causes of the opioidcrisis is the overprescription of opioid drugs. According to astudy from the Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS), morethan 240 million prescriptions for opioids were written in theUnited States in one year alone. This alarmingly high quantity ismore than enough to give every American adult their own bottle ofopioid pills.

With so many opioids in medicine cabinets across the country, weare making it dangerously easy for children, other family membersand friends to access these drugs. Half (50.5%) of the people whoabuse prescription drugs receive them from friends and family forfree, according to data from the National Survey for Drug Use andHealth (NSDUH).

Related: Workers' comp and pain management experts discussalternatives to opioids

However, safely removing leftover medication from medicinecabinets isn't as simple as flushing the pills down the toilet,which is incredibly dangerous for our water supply and environment.A study from JAMA Internal Medicine found that 66% of people keptunused medication, and half said they were not told by their doctorhow to dispose of unneeded medication.

Providing a convenient, cost-effective way for employees todispose of the unused and expired medication in their medicinecabinets is a simple way to proactively combat the opioid crisiswithin the workplace. By giving employees medication mail-backenvelopes, employees can safely remove their unneeded medicationfrom their homes and prevent opportunities for opioid abuse.

While the opioid crisis is a complex issue facing our nation, bytaking these proactive measures to address the epidemic, employerscan truly make a difference in the lives of their employees and ourcountry.

Maricha Ellis is vice presidentof marketing and sales operations at Stericycle EnvironmentalSolutions, a leading provider of environmental and regulated wastemanagement solutions.