On a crisp Monday morning, Sara Holt, CEO of Westside Logistics, gathered her leadership team—not for strategy or forecasts, but to confront substance use disorder in the workplace. She began with a simple question: “How many of you know someone
who’s struggled with substance use?” Nearly every hand rose.

Sara introduced Dr. Elena Ramirez, an addiction specialist, who explained the science of addiction, the barriers to recovery, and the staggering impact on businesses—nearly 1 in 11 workers affected, costing billions in lost productivity and safety risks. But it was the stories that resonated: warehouse workers masking pain with overtime, managers unsure how to respond, and companies that changed by educating leaders first.

The room shifted from silence to engagement. Leaders asked how to recognize signs, distinguish support from enabling, and balance compassion with safety. Sara watched as her team leaned in—not just to the facts, but to the human side of the issue. 

By the end, the team saw substance use disorder not as a moral failing, but a health issue requiring informed, empathetic leadership. Sara closed the session with conviction: “We can’t fix what we don’t understand. Today, we started understanding.”

Westside’s journey toward a more compassionate workplace had begun.