Alcohol and illicit drug abuse are major burdens on American society, costing an estimated $442 billion annually in lost productivity and health care costs.
The share of full-time workers who report monthly excessive alcohol use ranges from 4.4% to 17.5% across the 19 major industries. Illicit drug use across these industries ranges from 4.3% to 19.1%.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on substance use disorder — or SUD — from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to identify the industries where substance abuse is most common.
Click here to see the industries suffering the most from substance abuse.
Workers in the accommodations and food service industry are the most likely to have a substance use disorder — defined as the use of one or more substances that leads to abuse or dependence. According to the results of a National Surveys on Drug Use and Health questionnaire, 16.9% of workers in the accommodations and food service industry are physically impaired because of substance abuse. The sector also has the highest rate of illicit drug use, with an estimated 19.1% of full-time workers using illegal drugs for nonmedical purposes monthly.
One factor likely contributing to excessive consumption of alcohol in the accommodations and food service sector is the industry’s culture. People are around alcohol during their shift and tend to unwind over drinks with their peers at work once their shift is over.
According to “Dimensions of Problem Drinking Among Young Adult Restaurant Workers,” a study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, “Socializing with co-workers was found to be a risk factor for heavier or problem drinking.” The study also found that “after-work socializing in this particular occupational group appears to put members at heavier risk.” The report said that “Hazardous alcohol consumption patterns were seen in 80% of men and 64% of women” workers.
It somewhat of a tradition in the industry for restaurant managers to reward their employees with a drink once their shift is over. Concerns about alcohol abuse in the food industry workplace have prompted some business owners to reconsider having a liquor license and switch to a bring-your-own alcohol option.
Another possible reason for the higher levels of substance abuse in the food industry may be the high-stress environment, customer-facing work, as well as young hires working at low wages.
Substance abuse seems to be more common in male-dominated industries. Of the five industries with the highest substance abuse rates, four are predominantly male. Two of those sectors — construction and mining — are the most male-dominated in the United States. Workers in industries that have relatively high risk of injury or death — such as construction and mining — also are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.
The mining industry has the highest alcohol abuse rate, with 17.5% of full-time industry workers consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion five or more days a month. Miners tend to be young and male, and young men drink more than any other demographic group. Mining is a physically demanding work and miners can become isolated. Of course the work can also be dangerous.
Abuse of substances other than alcohol has become a greater concern in the mining industry. According to a report from the Mine Substance Abuse Task Force — composed of representatives from Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration — rates of substance abuse, particularly prescription painkillers, are increasing as indicated from the increase in treatment admissions, drug-related deaths, and drug-related arrests.
Construction work can also be stressful, especially when trying to meet a deadline. The work is physically taxing, and the risk of injury is also high. Because the construction industry is unstable, workers may go through periods of unemployment, leading some to drink heavily or use drugs.
At the other end of the substance-abuse spectrum, those in educational services have the lowest incidence of SUD, with 5.5% of full-time workers reporting some form of abuse disorder within the last year. Just 4.3% of public administration workers took illicit drugs in the past month, and 4.4% of workers in health care and social services reported heavy alcohol use within the last month. Each sector had the lowest share of any of the 19 industries surveyed.
Click here to see the industries suffering the most from substance abuse.
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