NCJ Number
176801
Date Published
1997
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This report used information from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) to examine illicit drug and heavy alcohol use among U.S. workers and workplace policies that addressed drug and alcohol use.
Abstract
Data were collected from 7,055 NHSDA respondents between 18 and 49 years of age who reported they were working full-time at the time they were interviewed. The NHSDA instrument included questions about various work-related outcomes (missing work, being fired, and workplace accidents), occupation, establishment size, whether respondents received information about the use of alcohol of drugs, the presence of written policies and employee assistance programs for workers with alcohol or drug problems, and the use of various drug testing options and employee perceptions about them. About 8 percent of full-time workers reported current illicit drug use. The percentage who reported current illicit drug use remained between 7 and 8 percent from 1991 to 1994, while the percentage of full-time workers who reported heavy alcohol use (five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the past 30 days) remained between 8 and 9 percent from 1988 to 1994. Those reporting current illicit drug use were more likely than those reporting no current illicit drug use to state that they had worked for three or more employers during the past year, to have taken an unexcused absence from work during the past month, and to have voluntarily left or been fired by an employer during the past year. The rate of current illicit drug use was higher among 18-to 25-year-olds, males, whites, and those with annual personal incomes of less than $9,000 or more than $75,000 than among older workers, women, blacks, Hispanics, and those with annual personal incomes between $9,000 and $74,999. The rate of current illicit drug use was higher among workers employed in smaller establishments (1-24 employees) than among workers employed in larger establishments (25 or more employees). The rate of heavy alcohol use did not differ by establishment size. Construction workers reported the highest rates of current illicit drug use, while protective service workers reported the lowest rates. Workers employed in smaller establishments who reported current illicit drug use were less likely than workers employed in smaller establishments who reported no current illicit drug use to state that their employers provided information, had written policies, or provided access to employee assistance programs that addressed alcohol and drug use. About 35 percent of full-time workers said their employers tested for drug use at the time of hiring, 20 percent reported random drug testing programs, 28 percent reported drug testing programs based on reasonable suspicion of a supervisor, and 23 percent reported the use of drug testing in conjunction with work-related accidents. Appendixes contain additional data and the NHSDA questionnaire items used. 20 references, 15 tables, and 17 figures