| Drugs
and Alcohol in the Workplace |
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More than 6% of the population over 12 years of age (13.9 million
people) has used drugs within the past 30 days. Rates of use remain
highest among persons aged 16 to 25 - the age group entering the work
force most rapidly. |
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73%
of all current drug users aged 18 and older (8.3 million adults) were
employed in 1997. This includes 6.7 million full-time and 1.6 million
part-time workers. |
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More than 14% of Americans employed full
and part-time report heavy drinking, with the heaviest use among persons
between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Of the 11.2 million heavy drinkers
in 1997, 30% (3.3 million) also were current illicit drug users. |
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According
to a national survey conducted by the Hazelden Foundation, more than
60 percent of adults know people who have gone to work under the influence
of drugs or alcohol. |
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The economic and human costs of drug and
alcohol use are astounding. The National Institutes of Health recently
reported that alcohol and drug abuse cost the economy $246 billion
in 1992, the most recent year for which economic data was available.
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| · |
Alcoholism
causes 500 million lost workdays each year. |
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| Workplace substance
abuse is an issue all employers need to address. Taking steps to raise
awareness among employees and offering appropriate resources and/or
assistance to employees in need will not only improve worker safety
and health, but also increase productivity while reducing costs. |
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| · |
One small plumbing company in Washington,
D.C. saved $385,000 in one year by establishing a drug-free workplace
that included Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services. The company
attributed much of the savings to a decrease in the number of accidents,
which resulted in lower workman's compensation costs and lower vehicle
insurance premiums. Additionally, the proportion of apprentices completing
a two-year training course has increased from 25% to 75%, resulting
in annual savings of $165,000. |
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A national freight railroad company implemented
a program of volunteers trained to confront substance abusers, and
if appropriate, refer them to the company's EAP. Since 1990, less
than 1% of the drug tests administered to safety-sensitive employees
have been positive. |
| · |
After implementing a comprehensive drug-free
workplace program in response to a worker's compensation discount
law, a mechanical contracting company in Florida saved $100,000 on
workers compensation premiums, and has also experienced increased
productivity, reduced absenteeism, and fewer accidents. |
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The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug
Addiction Services conducted a follow-up survey of 668 substance abuse
treatment residents one year after completing treatment. Findings
indicate that absenteeism decreased by 89%, tardiness by 92% and on-the-job
injuries by 57%. |
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