Which Jobs Lead to Substance Abuse?
Substance abuse is attributed to a number of causes, some genetic and others due to societal aspects. High stress, long hours, and fatigue are commonly cited causes of substance abuse, in addition to remote supervision and easy access to substances. Sometimes, even boredom can cause one to abuse drugs, the use of which has attributed to about four billion lost work hours in the United States alone.
Americans consume 60% of the world’s illegal drugs, so it’s a domestic issue that many should be aware of. Whatever the trigger, substance abuse can lead to decreased motivation at work. Studies show that workers reporting illicit drug or alcohol use are more likely to skip work over two days in a month, while also using sick time leave three times more frequently than the average worker. They were also more likely to miss more than two days of work because of injury, the chance of which increases when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The impact of substance abuse on an employee also affects their company loyalty. Employees who abuse substances are five times more likely to file worker’s compensation claims, and are almost 4 times more likely to get injured in the workplace. Substance abusers are a greater liability to a company and all of its workers. 10 to 20% of American workers who died at work tested positive for drugs and alcohol, one of many statistics that show their increased liability to the company and all co-workers surrounding them, especially in industries where machinery is used, like mining and construction – which has the highest rates of drug use among employees.
![Which Jobs Lead to Substance Abuse? [Infographic]](http://www.12palmsrehab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WhichJobsLeadToAbuse.jpg)
Infographic by 12 Palms Rehab
