A look at the devastating impact of opioid addiction

The nation’s opioid crisis grew much worse during the pandemic. And it has hit restaurants particularly hard.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Rick Van Warner, a former longtime industry executive and ex-CEO of the Tex-Mex chain Tijuana Flats.

He is also on the board at Project Opioid, a Florida-based agency that works with employers on the opioid crisis. Van Warner is also the author of the book On Pills and Needles, where he tells the story of his son’s addiction to opioids and the family’s long struggle to help him recover.

Van Warner tells his story and we talk about the risk restaurant workers face from opioids and in particular, synthetic opioids like fentanyl. He also has recommendations for employers on how they can deal with the issue.