Gov. Chris Sununu, before a packed audience last week that included recovery advocates, business leaders and state officials, announced the nationwide launch of his Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative and an invitation to fellow governors to join in the movement.

“Recovery Friendly Workplaces are an opportunity for the governors across the country to help change the culture around addiction in their states by engaging employers in being a proactive part of the conversation,” Sununu said. “We can provide tools and resources to open access to treatment. Importantly, businesses increase productivity and profitability by promoting evidence based practices that reduce the health and safety consequences associated with unaddressed substance use in the workplace.”

For more information on the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, visit www.recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com.

In calling on other states to join New Hampshire in this groundbreaking effort, interested states will have website domains, logos, and regulatory framework guidance provided to them. Rhode Island is the first state to join New Hampshire in creating a Recovery Friendly Workplace structure.

From the original launch on March 1, the list of early adopters has more than doubled in New Hampshire. Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare and the New Hampshire Hospital Association are a part of 16 additional companies who have signed on as early adopters, joining the 12 original organizations like the State of New Hampshire, Walmart and Turbocam. With these 28 early adopters, the total number of employees who work for a Recovery Friendly Workplace is about 26,000 people.