Worker substance use and workplace policies and programs

This report presents findings on substance use among workers and workplace drug policy and programs from the 2002, 2003, and 2004 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). NSDUH is an annual survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years or older. It is the primary source of statistical information on the use of illegal drugs by the U.S. population. The purpose of this report is to describe the nature of illicit drug and alcohol use in the adult working population and the prevalence of workplace programs designed to reduce drug and alcohol use. In addition, this report provides an assessment of the association of these programs with the prevalence of worker substance use. The analysis presented in this report demonstrates that worker substance use is a serious problem, with an estimated 9.4 million full-time workers aged 18 to 64 reporting illicit drug use in the past month. About 43.8 percent of full-time workers reported access to educational information about drug and alcohol use through work, 58.4 percent reported access to an employee assistance program (EAP), and 78.7 percent reported access to a written workplace policy about drug and alcohol use. In general, past month illicit drug users were less likely to work for employers who provided these programs. Finally, testing programs were fairly prevalent, with 48.8 percent of full-time workers reporting that their employer conducted testing for drug use. Multivariate analysis suggests that illicit drug users are less likely to work for employers who have a drug-testing program. (Extract of the publication)