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Alcohol and Drug Abuse in America Today
Although overall rates have not increased over the past several years, alcohol and drug abuse continues to afflict American society at the start of the 21st century.
- It is thought that 14.8 million Americans are current illicit drug users.
- Nearly 11% of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 are current illicit drug users. Among this population, marijuana is the most prevalent drug of use.
- Young adults between the ages of 18 and 20 have the highest rate of current illicit drug use at roughly 20%.3
- Heavy drinking occurs most frequently among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (13.3%), peaking at age 21 (17.4%).
- The rate of current illicit drug use is higher among men (8.7%) than women (4.9%).
- Heavy drinking correlates strongly with illicit drug use. Of 12.4 million heavy drinkers, 30.5% are also current illicit drug users.
America’s Workplaces in danger
No business, regardless of size or location, is immune to the countless problems that alcohol and drug abuse can cause. Most individuals who abuse alcohol and other drugs are employed, and when they arrive for work, they don’t leave their problems outside the door.
- Although the rate of current illicit drug use is higher among unemployed individuals, the vast majority of current illicit drug users in the US are employed. Of 12.3 million adult current illicit drug users, 9.4 million (77%) work.
- It is thought that 6.5% of full-time and 8.6% of part-time workers are current illicit drug users.
- Alcohol is the most widely abused drug among working adults. It is thought that 6.2% of adults working full time are heavy drinkers.
- over one in three (38%) workers between the ages of 18 and 25 are binge drinkers.
- Among employed adults, the highest rates of heavy drinking and current illicit drug use are reported by white, non-Hispanic males who are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have less than a high school education.
- By occupation, the highest rates of current illicit drug use and heavy drinking were reported by food preparation workers, waiters, waitresses and bartenders (19%); construction workers (14%); service occupations (13%); and transportation and material moving workers (10%).
- over 60% of adults know someone who has reported for work under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Everyone Bears the Impact
Everyone involved in running a business—both companies and workers—suffers when there is workplace alcohol and drug abuse. Some costs are obvious, such as increased absences, accidents and errors. Others, such as low morale and high illness rates, are less so, but the effects are equally harmful.
- One in five workers report that they have had to work harder, redo work or cover for a co-worker or have been put in danger or injured consequently a fellow employee’s drinking.
- Up to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism.
- Alcohol and drug abuse has been estimated to cost American businesses roughly 81 billion dollars in lost productivity in just one year—37 billion because of premature death and 44 billion because of illness. Of these combined costs, 86% are attributed to drinking.
- Alcoholism is estimated to cause 500 million lost workdays annually.
- Individuals who are current illicit drug users are over twice as likely (9.3%) than those who are not (4.3%) to have changed companies three or more times in the past year.
- Individuals who are current illicit drug users are also more likely (12.9%) than those who are not (5%) to have skipped one or more work days in the past month.
- Similarly, individuals who are current heavy alcohol users are more prone(8%) than those who are not (4.4%) to have changed companies three or more times in the past year.
- Individuals who are current heavy alcohol users are also more likely (11.3%) than those who are not (5.1%) to have skipped one or more work days in the past month.
- Results from a US Postal Service study revealed that workers who tested positive in a pre-employment drug test are 66% more likely to be absent and 77% more likely to be discharged within three years than those who tested negative.
- Of callers to the National Cocaine Helpline, 75% admit to having used drugs on the job, 64% report that drugs have adversely affected their job performance, 44% say they have sold drugs to fellow workers and 18% say they have stolen from coworkers to support their drug habit.
Small Businesses Most Vulnerable
When it comes to workplace substance abuse, small businesses have big disadvantages. They are less likely to have programs in place to combat the problem, yet they are more prone to be the “employer-of-choice” for illicit drug users. Individuals who can’t adhere to a drug-free workplace policy seek employment at firms that don’t have one, and the cost of just one error caused by an impaired employee can devastate a small company.
Among the population of full-time employed current illicit drug users:
- 44% work for small establishments (1-24 workers)
- 43% work for medium establishments (25-499 workers)
- 13% work for large establishments (500 or more workers)
Among the population of full-time employed heavy drinkers:
- 36% work for small establishments
- 47% work for medium establishments
- 17% work for large establishments25
Workplace Substance Abuse Articles and information sheets:
Information On the Dangers of Workplace Substance Abuserene |
