Alcoholism and the Workplace

Attendance, job performance, injuries and illnesses are expensive problems for companies whose employees abuse drugs and alcohol. Combined with the cost of drug testing, insurance claims, employee assistance programs, theft, and morale, and turnover, businesses across the country spend $100 billion each year to combat substance abuse in the workplace.

Many false impressions surround the stereotypical drug or alcohol user, and employers are reluctant to address a problem they don't believe even exists. The fact is, over 60 percent of employees know someone who has shown up for work intoxicated.

An analysis by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration uncovered the most frequent occupations where the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse is high:

• Construction workers
• Sales personnel
• Food preparation
• Wait staff
• Bartenders
• Handlers, helpers, and laborers
• Machine operators, inspectors
• Transportation and material movers
• Precision production and repair workers

Over 8 million adults who abuse drugs and alcohol (an estimated 73 percent of substance abusers) are currently employed either full- or part-time.

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The Costs of Alcoholism in the Workplace

Full-time employees between the ages of 18 and 49 who abuse drugs and alcohol are twice as likely to have taken an unexcused absence in the past month, worked for three or more employers in the past year, and left an employer voluntarily in the past year. These individuals are also three times as likely to have been fired by an employer in the past year.

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information reveals that drug and alcohol users:

• Are considerably less productive
• Are twice as likely to request an early release/time off
• Use three times as many sick days (eight days or more in a single occurrence)
• Show up late three times as often
• Are 3-1/2 times more likely to cause injury to themselves or co-workers
• File five times as many worker's compensation claims

Additional surveys have confirmed 6 percent of substance abusers within the past year have arrived to work drunk or high, and 10 percent were unable to come to work because of hangovers (withdrawal symptoms). Within the past month, 11 percent of heavy drinkers and 18 percent of drug users neglected work responsibilities entirely.

What's more, over 14 percent of workers admit to heavy drinking, while 30 percent of those individuals are also using illegal drugs.

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Casual Drinkers a Problem Too

Surprisingly, it's the occasional drinkers that account for the majority of lost productivity, not chronic alcoholics or drug addicts. Upper-level management reports using alcohol during a given workday at three times the rate of hourly employees. Further studies maintain 21 percent of employees demonstrate a marked decrease in productivity as a direct result of a colleague's drinking.

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Treatment for Alcoholism at The Canyon

Substance abuse is a very real, very costly problem for American businesses. Awareness, education, and employee assistance programs are cost effective ways of improving performance, productivity, health, and safety among the workforce.

Comprehensive prevention programs can result in decreases by as much as:

• 88 percent in problems with superiors
• 91 percent in absenteeism
• 93 percent in mistakes
• 97 percent in on-the-job injuries

Health insurance costs and worker's compensation premiums are, in turn, drastically reduced.

The U.S. Department of Labor outlines the 5 major components of effective substance abuse prevention programs as follows:

1. Written policy on drug/alcohol abuse
2. Supervisor training
3. Employee education
4. Assistance in obtaining treatment
5. Drug/alcohol testing

If you suspect an employee is using drugs or alcohol while on the job, immediate removal from the work environment is essential for maintaining employee safety and sends the message that intoxication during working hours will not be tolerated.

The Canyon offers corporate interventionists when you need a helping hand to take on the responsibilities of planning, organizing, and orchestrating an arranged meeting of co-workers and colleagues when drugs or alcohol are interfering with the workplace.

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