The Impacts of Addiction and Substance Abuse for Company
Substance Abuse in the United States
Did you know that 1 in 6 U.S. adults struggles with substance use disorder (SUD)? Addiction is a hidden disease among your employees that drives increased healthcare costs, absenteeism, presenteeism, and liability.
Employees are often afraid to be identified as struggling with SUD, and so strategies to engage and treat them must be thoughtful and intentional.
3x greater
direct healthcare costs for those struggling with addiction
2x more
days absent
40%
higher turnover
65%
of on-the-job accidents are related to alcohol and drug use according to the U.S. Department of Labor
5x
greater rate of workers’ comp claims
Stigma and cost prevent many from getting treatment
94% of people with an addiction don’t receive the services they need.
Business costs associated with accidents, theft, security risk and liability
Employees struggling with addiction significantly increase costs and liability for your business.
Absenteeism
On average, employees with an addiction miss two weeks more of work per year than their peers, averaging 25 days per year.
Presenteeism
Employees struggling with addiction are often impaired or distracted in ways that impact their productivity and relationships at work.
Turnover and re-training
Employees with an addiction are 40% more likely to have more than one employer in the past year.
Workplace accidents
40% of industrial fatalities can be linked to substance abuse.
Employees struggling with substance abuse are four times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents.
Employees struggling with substance abuse are five times more likely to file workers’ compensation claims.
Workplace violence
Substance abuse is the third leading cause of workplace violence.
$0
Total excess costs for company
Excess cost of lost time
Excess cost of turnover and training
Additional healthcare costs
Excess missed days
Excess annual turnover
Estimated number of employees with SUD at company
Substance abuse in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
- 8.6% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 27% turnover rate in your sector.
- 74% of workers in the industry have used an opioid or other pain killer.
- 26% of workers in the industry have abused, used, or taken an opioid without a prescription.
- 77% of the workers in the industry believe it would be easy to access opioid painkillers without a prescription.
Substance abuse in construction
- 15% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 32% turnover rate in your sector.
- 16.5% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 11.6% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in education services
- 6.4% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 36% turnover rate in your sector.
Substance abuse in entertainment, recreation, and food services
- 15.3% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 49% turnover rate in your sector.
- 11.8% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 19.1% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in finance and insurance
- 9.1% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 28% turnover rate in your sector.
- 7.4% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 6.5% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in health care and social assistance
- 6.4% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 36% turnover rate in your sector.
- Rates of addiction prescription drug abuse is 5 times higher among physicians than the general population.
- Of the physicians who received treatment, 71% were still sober, licensed, and employed after 5 years.
- 20% of all nurses struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Substance abuse in the information and communications industry
- 9.7% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 43% turnover rate in your sector.
- 12% of the workforce reported having used an illicit substance.
Substance abuse in manufacturing
- 9.4% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 32% turnover rate in your sector.
- 10% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 9% of the workforce reported alcohol dependence in the past year.
- 7.7% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction
- 10.3% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 41% turnover rate in your sector.
- 17.5% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 5% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in real estate, rental, and leasing
- 9.1% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 28% turnover rate in your sector.
Substance abuse in retail
- 9.8% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 39% turnover rate in your sector.
- 8.8% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 10.8% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
- 22% of the workforce reported using illicit drugs in the last year.
Substance abuse in transport and warehousing
- 7.5% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 31% turnover rate in your sector.
- 8.6% of the workforce reported drinking heavily in the previous month (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women).
- 6.2% of the workforce said that they had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Substance abuse in utilities
- 7.5% of the workforce are afflicted with substance use disorders.
- Individuals with substance use disorders have a 31% turnover rate in your sector.
The effects of substance abuse on employees and family
Your business isn't the only thing suffering when an employee is struggling with addiction. They may be facing additional challenges with their family outside of the workplace. As employers, we want to see our employees and their families succeed and thrive. Unfortunately, addiction can have other effects on an employee’s life that can't be easily identified in the workplace. For example:
- Financial stress
- Legal challenges
- Caregiving challenges
- Increased mental health disorders for family
- Increased risk of stressful life events
Is company prepared?
Are you ready to assist your employees and their families who are struggling with addiction? Do you know the warning signs?
- Only 17% of employers believe they’re prepared to deal with addiction in the workplace.
- Only 28% of employers provide opioid-specific training and education in the workplace.
When employees come to work under the influence or hungover, they make poor decisions, act recklessly, disregard safety protocols or practices, or take on other unnecessary risks. The result? Mistakes, accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.
How can company help?
We know that you care for all of your employees and their families, but it can be challenging to help someone who is struggling with something you may not understand or haven't experienced. Taking a proactive approach to addressing addiction in the workplace is the best solution. Some of the actions you can take include:
- Recognize the impact of addiction on the bottom line.
- Educate and engage your workforce on addiction.
- Teach employees how to spot the signs of addiction.
- Provide anonymous, accessible treatment options for those struggling with addiction.
- Ensure that healthcare and benefit plans cover the costs of addiction treatment.
How can Anonymous Health help?
Anonymous Health provides an anonymous, comprehensive telehealth program for those struggling with addiction. Our industry-leading interventions achieve 60% abstinence rates at the 6-month mark, which is over 5x greater than community programs alone.
The Anonymous Health care model includes:
- Care concierge support including consultations as well as coordination and scheduling of an appropriate care team.
- An anonymous employee toll-free line and website that can be integrated to company's HR, EAP and other points of inquiry.
- Coordinated telehealth including: 1-on-1 counseling, medication assisted treatment (MAT), groups and peer support.
- Mobile app with gamified self help CBT exercises, video content, chat, and anonymous private groups.
- Free organizational training and outreach programs to educate on addiction and help employees understand how to seek help.
Contact Anonymous Health
Learn more about programs to support your employees with substance use and addictive habits.