Workplace Policies and Programs Concerning Alcohol and Drug Use

Substance use can result in lost productivity, workplace accidents and injuries, employee absenteeism, low morale, and increased illness. Workplace substance use policies and programs promote the health and well-being of employees while reducing behaviors that could negatively affect the quality of work and performance of employees. Combined 2003 to 2007 and 2008 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data were analyzed to present estimates of full-time workers aged 18 to 64 who worked for an employer who provided workplace policies and programs concerning alcohol and drug use. Combined 2008 to 2012 NSDUH data indicate that 81.4 percent of full-time workers aged 18 to 64 worked for an employer with a written policy about employee use of alcohol and drugs, 59.5 percent had access to an employee assistance program (EAP) at work, and 44.7 percent reported that their employer had given them educational materials regarding the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Full-time workers aged 18 to 64 who used illicit drugs in the past month were generally less likely than those who did not use illicit drugs in the past month to work for an employer with a written policy about employee use of alcohol and drugs. Similarly, full-time workers who drank heavily in the past month were less likely than those who did not drink heavily to have an employer that provided these workplace policies and programs. There were small but statistically significant increases in the percentage of full-time workers aged 18 to 64 reporting working for an employer who provided these workplace policies and programs between 2003-2007 and 2008-2012. The percentage of full-time workers who worked for employers who provided substance use-related policies and programs has improved slightly. Workers aged 18 to 25 were less likely to be aware of the EAP at their workplace than older workers, even though adults aged 18 to 25 have higher substance use rates than older adults. Given the lifetime health and economic burden from illicit drug and alcohol use, this report illustrates the need for ongoing efforts to promote workplace-based substance use policies and programs and to monitor changes in awareness of these programs by employees over time.