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Methadone Treatment News

Substance Abuse In the Workplace

A significant amount of substance abuse takes place among the American work force, and some of this use occurs at work. Most illicit drug users are employed. In fact, 74% work, according to the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

That survey also reports that three in four people who acknowledged using drugs in 1996 were employed, including 6.2 million full-time workers, and 1.9 million part-time workers. One out of three Americans in the workforce smokes; 8% drink alcohol daily; and 15% say they've used illicit drugs in the past year. The result: loss of productivity, higher absenteeism, increased health insurance costs, and risk of serious injury and death.

Among employed drug users, absenteeism is 66% higher, health benefit utilization is 84% greater in dollar terms, disciplinary actions are 90%higher, and there is significantly higher employee turnover (ONDCP, The National Drug Control Strategy, 1997).