Substance Abuse in the Workplace

​Have you ever wondered if substance abuse exists in your workforce or if some of your employees have a drug or alcohol problem? The answer to that question, unfortunately, is “most likely.” Substance abuse is common, and the costs of substance abuse are high for employers. Of all substance users, 68.9% are employed and active in the workplace, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).  Because substance abuse is so prevalent among working adults, employers must understand the impact that it has on absenteeism, productivity, and efficiency at work.
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Employees with substance abuse issues often:

• Fail to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.
• Use substances in situations where it is physically hazardous (e.g. driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use).
• Have recurrent substance-related legal or financial problems.
• Continue to use substances despite persistent social or interpersonal problems that are a result of the substance use.

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In addition to higher absenteeism and lower job productivity and performance, substance abuse also leads to greater health care, workers’ compensation, and disability expenses because of injuries and illnesses. Employees who are under the influence have less focus, are more apt to make mistakes, and are more likely to injure themselves—either on the job or at home. This all leads to increased dollars spent by employers on issues that likely could be avoided had the existence of substance abuse not been present.

So what’s the employer’s role? Reducing employee substance abuse can help employers improve productivity, reduce workplace injuries, and decrease health care costs. This can be done by offering employee assistance programs, establishing a policy and practice on substance abuse at work, providing treatment options for employees who willingly seek out help, training managers on how to recognize potential substance abuse at work, etc. Because substance abuse is a problem in the workplace, employers must take a proactive approach to eliminate it. People are an organization’s most valuable asset and therefore, need to be supported when they face challenges.

Want to know more about recognizing the signs and symptoms of addiction in the workplace?

Need help developing drug-free workplace and other written substance abuse policies?
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Adapted from: Wilcox, S. (n.d.). Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace.

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