Federal Report: Substance Abusers Rampant in U.S. Workplaces

Employing Substance Abusers: How widespread is illicit drug use among your workforce? It pays to check, given the results of a recent study by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. It is based on responses of 128,000 people between 2002 and 2004. Of the nation’s estimated 16.4 million substance abusers, about 15 million are working full-time jobs. Use of illegal substances is highest among employees of the food service industry (17.4 percent) and construction (15 percent). Alcohol is the preferred substance of abusers who work in construction, mining, excavation and drilling (18 percent) and those in the installation, maintenance and repairs sector (15 percent).

Substance users also had far higher job turnover rates and absenteeism, according to the study. More than 12 percent of full-time workers who abuse illegal substances reported working for three or more employers during the past year, compared with 5 percent for non-abusers. Random drug tests may help somewhat, but won’t eliminate the problem. About one-third of respondents said they would avoid working for companies that did drug testing.