Nearly 9% of Young US Workers Report Substance Use On the Job, New Study Reveals
A new study indicates that nearly 9% of workers in their 30s in the United States report using alcohol, marijuana, or illicit drugs while on the job, raising concerns about workplace safety and employee well-being.
Rising Substance Use in the American Workforce
The research, published recently in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, highlights a significant, and often overlooked, issue within the American workforce. Researchers found that 8.9% of young employees admitted to substance use in the workplace within the past month, with alcohol being the most commonly reported substance at 5.6%. Marijuana use accounted for 3.1% of reported instances, while 0.8% involved cocaine or other hard drugs, including opioids.
The study underscores a critical gap in understanding the prevalence of substance use during work hours, a data point historically difficult to obtain. “There are many studies looking at specific occupations and their risks, and the prevalence of substance use outside work,” one researcher explained. “There is very limited evidence on workplace substance use, which is more concerning in terms of occupational safety, not just for the workers but also colleagues or others exposed to the workplaces.”
Industries at Highest Risk
The risk for on-the-job substance use was particularly elevated in certain sectors. The food preparation and service industry emerged as a high-risk area, alongside safety-sensitive occupations like construction. This finding is particularly alarming given previous research linking the construction industry to a higher risk of fatal drug overdoses.
Further analysis revealed specific trends within these sectors. While food service and construction saw higher rates of overall substance use, white-collar workers reported higher rates of alcohol consumption, potentially linked to business entertainment and celebratory practices. Notably, 6% of workers in material moving occupations – a critical component of the transportation sector – admitted to working under the influence, and 2% were actively using marijuana. This was surprising, researchers noted, given existing policies prohibiting impairment in many federal transportation roles.
The Role of Workplace Conditions and Support
The study’s findings suggest a strong correlation between adverse working conditions and substance use as a coping mechanism. Researchers emphasized that individuals facing economic hardship, long hours, or stressful work environments may be more likely to turn to substances. “Our research shows that those under adverse working conditions with many barriers to economic and well-being resources tend to use substances as a coping mechanism,” a lead author stated.
However, the researchers stressed that simply identifying risk factors is insufficient. They advocate for a more holistic approach that addresses both workplace policies and employee support systems. A 2023 study led by one of the researchers found that 20% of workplaces have no formal substance use policy in place. Furthermore, only half of workers nationally have access to support services like counseling for substance use problems.
“What I found was policy alone can’t be effective in reducing substance use problems – policies need to be accompanied by support services,” the researcher explained. “That’s one thing we propose in this paper – that combining alcohol and other drug policies with supportive services produces the greatest benefits, rather than relying on either alone.”
A Cycle of Misuse
The analysis also revealed a concerning link between on-the-job substance use and off-duty habits. Employees who used marijuana while working were more likely to report daily cannabis use and were more than twice as likely to be heavy drinkers. Similarly, those using cocaine or other hard drugs on the job were more prone to heavy drinking, frequent marijuana use, and overall illicit drug use.
The study was based on data collected from 5,465 young employees who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally representative sample interviewed regularly from 1997 to 2022. Data for this specific analysis came from the 2015-16 survey, focusing on self-reported substance use immediately before or during a work shift.
These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address substance use in the workplace, prioritizing both preventative policies and accessible support services to protect the health and safety of American workers. There is a need for more structural support to address these huge implications for the health of workers and others, and to reduce the stigma associated with substance use.
