The New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace is a state initiative that challenges stigma and empowers workplaces to provide support for employees in recovery and all those impacted by substance use disorder (SUD). The initiative recognizes that substance use costs the state more than $2.3 billion with employers incurring 66% of this cost through impaired productivity and absenteeism. 

Launched in 2018, the program encourages healthy and safe working environments where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change, eliminate stigma, and support recovery. Employers and employees can receive no-cost training on substance misuse, behavioral health, addiction, and workplace policies and their business can be designated and recognized as a recovery friendly workplace. The initiative also provides customized trainings, among these include how to use naloxone and the impact of stigma. 

This state initiative has gotten nationwide attention as a promising model. Recovery friendly workplaces have now been replicated in other states, such as Nevada and Connecticut.