Data from the SAMHSA study for the 2008-2012 periods indicated that an annual average of 8.7% of full-time workers in the 18-64 age range used alcohol heavily in the past month, 8.6% used illicit drugs in the past month, and 9.5% were dependent on or abused alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year.
Demographics play a role in the data. Prior research shows heavy alcohol use and illicit drug use are more common among males and younger workers (through age 34), than among females and older workers (age 35 and above). Industries with younger, predominantly male workers thus were found to have higher alcohol and drug use rates. However, researchers reported no discernible trend toward increased or decreased substance use in the data for this period compared to that for 2003 through 2007.
SAMHSA observed: “An effective substance abuse testing policy may help employers reduce the incidences of drug and alcohol abuse in their workplaces.
W. Barry Nixon is the COO, PreemploymentDirectory.com the leading background screening information portal and online worldwide directory of professional background screening firms and Suppliers to the background screening industry. He co-authored the landmark book, Background Screening & Investigations: Managing Hiring Risk from the HR and Security Perspective. He also is the publisher of award winning newsletters, The Background Buzz and The Global Background Screener, and the author of the Background Checks column in PI Magazine.
In addition, Barry is a past recipient of the elite ‘Top 25 Influential People in Security’ by Security Magazine and past Co-Chair, International Committee for the National Association for Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). He currently serves as a Global Ambassador for NAPBS.
You can contact Barry at 1-949-770-5264 or online at wbnixon@preemploymentdirectory.com