What are some of the most common misunderstandings an employer may have regarding substance abuse in the workplace?
A. Substance abuse is not an issue in the workplace. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) reported 107.3 million persons aged 18 to 49 in the labor force, of whom 81.7 percent (87.7 million persons) worked full-time. Among full-time workers aged 18-49 years in 2000, 1 in 12 reported past month heavy alcohol use and 1 in 13 reported past month illicit drug use. In the past year, 1 in 14 of workers was dependent or abusing alcohol, and 1 in 53 was dependent or abusing illicit drugs. The results of workers who reported past month illicit drug use were compared to those that reported they did not. The workers reporting illicit drug use were twice as likely to have had three or more employers in the past year and had two or more illnesses or injury related days out of work. Workers with past month illicit drug use were also two and a half times more likely to have skipped two or more work days in the past month, compared to those that did not use. B. Substance abuse prev
