Employers can avoid significant costs if they can assist their employees in receiving treatment for a substance use disorder.  While the savings vary by industry, the average one year cost avoidance for each employee who recovers from a substance use disorder is more than $3,200.

State Level Prevalence of Substance Use

Prevalence is based on the three-year average of any substance use reported as part of the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2012 to 2014.

Industry Sector Prevalence of Substance Use

Prevalence is based on the three-year average of any substance use reported as part of the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2012 to 2014.  The NSDUH elicits information about employment status, industry sector, and occupation. Respondents select among 16 categories for the industry sector of their current job, and 14 occupational categories.  The proportion of NSDUH respondents who report working in specific industries generally mirrors rates reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹

Recovery Friendly Workplace Programs Should Include Five Key Elements:

1. A clear, written policy
2. Employee education/Stigma reduction
3. Supervisor training
4. Employee support programs/access to evidence-based treatment
5. Drug testing

1. Henderson R. Industry employment and output projections to 2024. Monthly Lab. Rev. 2015; 138:1.   The only exceptions are in the categories education and health, which in 2014 composed 14% of the workforce and government, which composed 14%.   The comparable NSDUH categories were 12% for education and health, and 5% for public administration.  Discrepancies are likely a result of the NSDUH assigning some government worksites to education and health.