audreyr@fee-eap.com
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Facts on Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace
- In 1994, workers who reported no current illicit drug use were more likely than those who reported current illicit drug use to report that their workplace provided information about drug and alcohol use, had a written policy about drugs and alcohol use, and had an EAP. In 1997, these differences were not seen, perhaps due to the fact that the economy was very strong in 1997 and employers were more likely to hire workers regardless of drug use behavior.
- Both 1994 and 1997 data indicated that small workplaces (those with fewer than 25 employees), were least likely to have information or a written policy about drug or alcohol abuse.
- In 1997, the four occupations with full-time workers reporting current illicit drug use above 10 percent were: 1) Food Preparation, Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders, 2) Construction, 3) Other Services and 4) Transportation and Material Moving
- 6.6 % of Americans employed in full-time jobs report heavy drinking (five or more drinks per occasion on five or more days in the past 30 days.(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1997)
- Up to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism. (M Bernstein & JJ Mahoney, "Management Perspectives on Alcoholism: The Employer's Stake in Alcoholism Treatment," Occupational Medicine, Vol. 4, No.2, 1989 pp. 223-232)
- 60% of alcohol-related work performance problems can be attributed to employees who are not alcohol dependent, but who occasionally drink too much on a work night or during a weekday lunch. (TW Mangione, et al, " New Perspectives for Worksite Alcohol Strategies: Results from a Corporate Drinking Study," JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Boston, MA 12/98, p.1)
- 21% of workers reported being injured or put in danger, having to re-do work or to cover for a co-worker, or needing to work harder due others' drinking (Ibid, p.2)
- 63% of firms responding to a 1991 survey were engaged in some sort of drug testing, a 200% increase since 1987 (American Management Association Research Reports, E Greenberg, ed., "1991 AMA Survey on Workplace Drug Testing and Drug Abuse Policies," p.1)
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The costs to employers related to drugs and alcohol in the workplace
- Absenteeism among alcoholics or problem drinkers is 3.8 to 8.3 times greater than normal (Bernstein and Mahoney, op cit) and up to 16 times greater among all employees with alcohol and other drug -related problems (US Department of Labor, What Works; Workplaces Without Drugs, 8/90, p.3) Drug-using employees take three times as many sick benefits as other workers and they are five times more likely to file a worker's compensation claim. (TE Backer, Strategic Planning for Workplace Drug Abuse Programs, NIDA, 1987, p.4)
- Non-alcoholic members of alcoholics' families use ten times as much sick leave as members of families in which alcoholism is not present. (Bernstein and Mahoney, op. cit.).
- 43% of CEO's responding to one survey estimated that use of alcohol and other drugs cost them 1% to 10% of payroll (National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, "Treatment Is the Answer: A White Paper on the Cost-Effectiveness of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Treatment, 3/91, p.1)
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