Most of the nation’s 16.4 million current illicit drug users and 15 million heavy alcohol users hold full-time jobs, according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA says the highest rates of current illicit drug use were among food service workers (17.4 percent) and construction workers (15.1 percent), and the highest rates of current heavy alcohol use were found among construction, mining, excavation and drilling workers (17.8 percent), and installation, maintenance, and repair workers (14.7 percent).

Higher levels of absenteeism and frequent job changes are associated with the illicit drug and alcohol use, nearly twice as many current illicit drug users skipped one or more days of work in the past month compare to those who did not abuse drugs. Another major finding was that current drug users were more likely to work for employers who did not conduct drug or alcohol testing programs. For the full 200-page report, see Worker Substance Use and Workplace Policies and Programs.