RIA Reaching Others with Research on Drinking and Drugs in the Workplace/Workforce

A seminal study at UB’s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) reported that during the course of the year “15% of the U.S. workforce has used or been under the influence of alcohol at work.” This prevalence study of workforce-workplace substance use included data obtained from interviews with 2,800 employed adults, ages 18-65, who resided in the contiguous U.S. and District of Columbia between 2002-03.

Substance use in the workplace occurs:

• Just before coming to work 
• On lunch hours and other breaks 
• Due to intoxication at work or hangover from the night before 

Since that study, additional important research results about substance use on the job have been released by RIA. 

Timely Research

Highlights of research findings in this area included:

• 8.9 million workers drank alcohol at least once during the workday. Most workers who drink during the workday do so during lunch breaks, though some drink while working or during other breaks. 
• 2.3 million workers have consumed alcohol at least once before going into work. 
• Approximately 63% of the workforce reported that they could easily bring alcohol into work, use alcohol while working, use alcohol during lunch and other breaks, or obtain alcohol at work. Similarly, 59% of the workforce reported that they could easily engage in the same behaviors regarding illicit drugs.  
• Men’s alcohol use and impairment at work was more prevalent than women’s. Younger employees worked under the influence of alcohol or with a hangover more than older workers, and unmarried workers more than married workers. 

Occupations showing the highest rates of workplace alcohol use and impairment were: management, sales, arts/entertainment/sports/ media, food preparation and serving, building and grounds maintenance.

Illicit drug use in the workforce involved an estimated 14% or 17.7 million workers; illicit drug use in the workplace involved an estimated 3% or 3.9 million employed adults.

A permissive workplace substance use climate impacts perceptions of workplace safety, work strain, and employee morale among employees who do not use substances at work.

What it Means to Main St.

Since 1994, multi-year awards funding this area of research have added to the local economy by the creation of jobs, paychecks spent in housing, retail, school and entertainment, as well as in the growth of suburban and rural communities in the region. RIA’s 160 staff members reside in and contribute to 18 different local municipalities as taxpayers, consumers, parents, students, volunteers and much, much more. Three prominent NIH-funded studies in this research area include:

1994 - 2000 $560,000

Work, Alcohol and School Performance Among Adolescents

2000 - 2004 $1.4 million

Workplace Substance Use: A National Prevalence Study

2007 - 2012 $2.2 million

Work Stress And Alcohol Use:
A National Study of Unresolved & Unexplored Issues

13% reported exposure to a co-worker who used or was impaired by an illicit drug during the workday; 23% of the workforce reported exposure to a co-worker who used or was impaired by alcohol during the workday. Exposure to a permissive workplace substance use climate differed by gender, age, occupation and work shift.
Illicit drug use is not distributed equally across employers. Among young

men in high-risk occupations, 56% report overall illicit drug use and 28%
report workplace illicit drug use. Likewise, among young women in high-
risk occupations, 43% report overall illicit drug use and 11% report workplace illicit drug use.