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60% of Americans battling drug or alcohol addictions also have jobs. Here are the professions with the highest rates of substance-use disorder

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Summary

This article discusses the prevalence of substance-use disorder among American workers, with the highest rates found in construction and mining (19%) and service occupations such as food and hospitality (15.6%). It also examines how substance-use disorder can result in enormous losses for businesses in the form of higher health care costs, absenteeism, and presenteeism. The article then highlights the benefits of "recovery-friendly workplaces" which provide supportive, low-stress environments and open dialogue about substance-use disorders, and the example of one restaurant group which has eliminated shift drinks in favor of family picnics and meditation training.

Q&As

What percentage of Americans battling drug or alcohol addiction are employed?
60% of Americans battling drug or alcohol addiction are employed.

What are the occupations with the highest rates of substance-use disorder?
Construction and mining employ the most individuals struggling with substance-use disorder (SUD)—an estimated 19% of workers in those industries. Service occupations, such as those in the food and hospitality industries, had the second highest proportion of workers with SUD—15.6%.

What are the economic consequences of substance-use disorder for businesses?
Businesses lose enormous sums every year as a result of the issue in the form of higher health care costs, absenteeism, and presenteeism (when employees are at work, but not fully productive).

How are businesses and policymakers working to better accommodate individuals with substance-use disorder?
Businesses and policymakers are working to better accommodate these workers—to help them get treatment, sustain recovery, and be productive—in “recovery-friendly workplaces.”

What are the benefits of hiring people in recovery from addiction?
The benefits of hiring people in recovery from addiction include being able to keep the workplace staffed during the pandemic, bringing in extra cash, and introducing hardworking and dedicated employees.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides valuable insight into the prevalence of substance-use disorder in the workplace and the need for employers to create recovery-friendly workplaces.

👎 The article does not address how employers can effectively address the stigma associated with substance-use disorder in the workplace.

AI Discussion

Me: It discusses the prevalence of substance use disorders among those with jobs in the U.S. According to the article, 60% of Americans who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction have jobs. It goes on to list the professions with the highest rates of substance-use disorder.

Friend: Wow, that's concerning. What are the implications of this?

Me: Well, the article points out that having a substance-use disorder is a protected status under the Americans With Disabilities Act, but many people still don't want to discuss it or seek help for fear of being judged or getting fired. Also, businesses can suffer from higher healthcare costs, absenteeism, and presenteeism due to substance-use disorders. So it's important for employers to create a supportive environment for those with substance-use disorders and promote wellness initiatives.

Action items

Research the resources available to employers to help them create a recovery-friendly workplace.
Reach out to local organizations that provide support and resources for individuals with substance-use disorder.
Educate yourself and your colleagues on the signs of substance-use disorder and how to support those struggling with addiction.

Technical terms

Substance-use disorder: A brain disease as defined by the American medical and scientific communities, characterized by an inability to control the use of a substance, such as alcohol or drugs.
Americans With Disabilities Act: A federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, public accommodations, and other areas.
Presenteeism: When employees are at work, but not fully productive.
NORC at the University of Chicago: The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, a research organization that specializes in public opinion and social research.
Get well job: A job that provides a supportive, low-stress, substance-free environment where one can openly talk about substance-use disorder and seek help when necessary.
Recovery-friendly workplaces: Businesses that are working to better accommodate individuals with substance-use disorder by providing treatment, sustaining recovery, and helping them be productive.
Shift drinks: Drinks after working a shift, typically provided by the employer.