The Magnitude Of The Drug Problem And How It Affects the Workplace |
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How many people use drugs? |
The federal government reports nearly 14 million adults currently use illegal drugs ("current" meaning illegal drug use within the past 30 days). That represents an
increase of more than 1 million users since the government's 1995 report. However, that's only the tip of the iceberg. Combine that number with the nearly 11 million Americans who admit that
they are "heavy" drinkers (5 or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 5 different days in the past month) and the severity of the situation begins to come into focus.
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How many drug users are employed? |
By some estimates nearly three-quarters of current illicit drug users 18 and older are employed... that's more than 10 million U.S. workers. Offering credence to this
report is a survey of callers to the 800-COCAINE hotline finding that 75 percent admitted to using drugs while at work. And if that was not bad enough, the federal government claimed that if all
workers ages 18-40 were administered a drug test on any given day, as many as 25 percent would test positive.And the amount of drug use in the workplace is not a very well kept secret. The Gallup
Organization reported that in a survey of full-time employed adults more than 30 percent indicated they had personal knowledge of co-workers' drug use on the job. In a 1996 survey of employees
conducted by the Hazelden Foundation, nearly 61 percent said they know people who have shown up for work drunk or stoned. Gallup reports that nearly 10 percent of employees have been offered drugs to use
while on the job. And 44 percent of participants in the 800 COCAINE hotline survey admitted to selling drugs to other employees.
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Which drugs are they using? |
Alcohol is, by far, the leading substance abused by Americans in virtually all categories. When measured in comparison to illegal drugs, the effects of alcohol abuse
are devastating. Following alcohol, the leading illegal drug abused in the United States is marijuana. In 1997, approximately 5 percent of the U.S. population 12 and older (11 million) were
marijuana users. Cocaine was second with an estimated 1.5 million current users. Perhaps most disturbing was the fact that there were nearly 700,000 new cocaine users that year, and that
first-time cocaine use among 12-17-year olds increased from 4 percent in 1991 to 11.3 percent in 1996. Other highly used illegal drugs include heroin with an estimated 325,000 current users; up 422 percent
in just four years, and also noteworthy is hallucinogen use with 1.1 million users. First-time use of any illicit drug among 12-17-year olds jumped from 11.7 percent in 1991 to nearly 26 percent in
1996... further evidence that drug use trends are steadily increasing. |
How does substance abuse affect work performance? |
One of the most revealing studies on how job performance is affected by substance abuse comes from the U.S. Postal Service. The Post Service discovered that substance
abusers are involved in 55 percent more accidents, experience 85 percent more on-the-job injuries, and
have a 78 percent higher rate of absenteeism when compared to their non-substance abusing
co-workers. Sixty-two percent of callers to 800 COCAINE admitted that drug use adversely affected their job performance. The federal government estimates that substance-abusing employees are
one-third less productive than their non-using co-workers.
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How much does substance abuse cost employers? |
In terms of its impact on human life, the cost of substance abuse is inestimable. From an economic point of view, the cost to the workplace is tremendous.
Forty-three percent of CEOs in one survey said they believe problems associated with alcohol and other drugs cost as much as 10 percent of payroll. A Wisconsin study concluded that expenses and losses
related to substance abuse equal 25 percent of the salary of each affected employee. The overall price tag has been estimated to be as high as $200 billion annually.To calculate how much drug abuse is
costing your company follow this formula: Multiply $6,600 (the average cost per year per substance abusing employee) by 17 percent of the number of your employees (the percentage of the total workforce
with a substance abuse problem). For example, if you have 65 employees, 17 percent would be 11 workers. Multiply 11 by the average cost per year, $6,600, and you get a total of $72,600 a year.
Now ask yourself—can my company afford to lose nearly $75,000 every year to a problem that I can have some control over?
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If you would like to learn more please call today for more information. |
1.800.647.9070 |
