Industry Stats

Click on these topics for information that you may find helpful in implementing or conducting your drug free workplace program including links to regulations and industry support groups.

Industry Statistics

Construction

The construction industry touches virtually every aspect of our lives. America has a long history of designing and constructing landmarks recognized the world over. Safety is a great concern in this industry, not only for the workers themselves, but for the general public as well.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Construction Laborers	12.8	25.4	19.9
Construction Supervisors	17.2	25.9	12.7
Other Construction Workers	17.3	23.4	20.6

General Services

The general service industry is the nation's largest employer of "security-sensitive positions" and pays a very high price for drug and/or alcohol abuse. These positions include employees who could have access to financial records and maintain confidential information. The mistakes made by employees impaired by drug and/or alcohol abuse could be devastating.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Business & Repair	11.1	19.8	19.9
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate	5.4	14.6	12.7
Personal Services	10.3	19.3	20.6
Professional & Related Services	4.2	11.05	20.6
Public Administration	3.7	8.8	20.6

Health Care

Health care industry workers who abuse alcohol and/or drugs not only jeopardize their own safety, but the safety of the countless patients that have been entrusted to their care. By keeping America's health-related establishments drug and alcohol free, employers demonstrate that care and safety of their clients is top priority.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists	-	3.3	-
Nurses and Nursing Aides	5.5	12.8	2.8
Dental and Health Aides	2.8	9.9	2.3
Therapists	4.0	7.2	3.5
Clinical and Laboratory Technologists	4.3	8.9	2.2

High Tech

America's high-tech industry, where employees regularly deal with large quantities of money and information, is greatly affected by drug and/or alcohol abusers in the workplace. Accuracy is critical in this industry, and even the smallest, undetected errors could seriously jeopardize employee health and profits.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Computer Scientists/Analysts	-	-	2.4
Computer Programmer/Operators	3.6	10.4	2.7
Computer and Data Processors	6.1	13.5	16.2

Hospitality

In the hospitality industry, where customer satisfaction is crucial, employees who abuse drugs and/or alcohol threaten their own safety and the safety of their customers. They can also seriously jeopardize the success of that establishment. Customers not satisfied with the service in a particular establishment may simply take their business elsewhere.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Food Preparers	16.3	27.6	16.3
Grounds Keepers	11.4	21.0	9.8
Janitors	13.0	20.6	10.3
Maids	7.9	12.8	3.6
Waiters/Waitresses	15.4	28.9	12.1

Manufacturing

In the manufacturing industry, employers must uphold their position in our nation as high-quality producers. Employers who abuse drugs and/or alcohol can potentially jeopardize the reputation of those companies, as well as compromise the safety of themselves, their co-workers, and the consumers.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Electrical Machinery	5.6	10.3	2.7
Lumber and Wood Products	8.9	15.8	12.0
Machinery	6.7	12.7	7.3
Metal Industries	6.8	21.4	10.0
Professional Equipment	7.7	16.0	7.3
Transportation Equipment	4.8	13.4	8.2

Retail

In the retail industry, customer service and quality are key to a business' success. Customers not satisfied with the service they receive may simply take their business elsewhere. An employee who abuses drugs and/or alcohol jeopardizes not only their safety, the safety of their co-workers and their patrons, but could also seriously jeopardize the success of that company.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Apparel and Shoe Stores	3.9	12.3	1.5
Auto Supply Stores & Gas Stations	11.2	22.2	13.2
Department Stores	5.7	13.1	3.5
Eating and Drinking Places	16.3	28.0	15.4
Furniture & Applicance Stores	14.4	20.2	6.2
Grocery Stores	9.3	17.2	5.8
Other Retails Stores	5.9	12.8	4.7

Transportation

With the transportation industry affecting almost every aspect of our daily lives, it is easy to see the often-tragic results of drug and/or alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, drug and alcohol use play a significant part in the number of transportation-related accidents each year. This not only has a huge impact on employees and employers, but the general public as well. This is why the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has mandated that all industries comply with governmental regulations and maintain alcohol and drug free workplaces.

Position	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Truck Drivers (light)	18.9	15.1
Vehicle Repairers	17.0	14.9
Truck Drivers (heavy)	16.4	13.3
Bus Drivers	13.6	6.7

Wholesale

The wholesale industry plays a critical role in delivering products to its consumers. Workplace errors caused by drug and/or alcohol abuse could have potentially devastating consequences to a business. Employees' safety is jeopardized as well as the safety of those around them and the safety of their customers.

Position	Current Illicit Drug Use %	Past Year Illicit Drug Use %	Current Heavy Illicit Drug Use %
Durable Goods	9.4	16.4	8.4
Non-Durable Goods	6.9	14.8	11.8
Groceries	7.7	21.5	9.8
Misc. Wholesale Trade	8.3	12.2	8.2