About 9% of U.S. workers in their early 30s reported using alcohol, marijuana or other drugs while at work, according to new research from The Ohio State University. The findings highlight the importance of workplace policies and supportive programs to help employees, especially in blue-collar and service industries.

“Especially for those working in blue-collar or heavy manual jobs, they often have limited access to support to address substance use,” said Sehun Oh, associate professor of social work at Ohio State, in a statement. “It’s easy to blame someone for using substances, but we want to pay attention to understanding their working conditions and barriers at the workplace.”

Published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, the study followed more than 5,000 workers from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort, which tracked participants from their teenage years through 2022. The research focused on survey responses from 2015-2016.

Among those who admitted to substance use on the job in the past month, 5.6% said they drank alcohol, 3.1% used marijuana and 0.8% used cocaine, opioids or other hard drugs.

Risks were highest in food preparation, service and safety-sensitive occupations such as construction and transportation. Researchers also found that white-collar workers were more likely to use alcohol to build client relationships or celebrate milestones, while marijuana and alcohol use were more common in physically demanding jobs.

In earlier studies, Oh and colleagues found that comprehensive workplace policies — including recovery-friendly options and access to counseling — helped lower drug and alcohol use among workers.

“Our research shows that those under adverse working conditions with many barriers to economic and well-being resources tend to use substances as a coping mechanism, whether that relates to an emotional toll or physical demands of not just working conditions, but their life circumstances,” Oh said. “There is a need for more structural support to address these huge implications for the health of workers and others, and to reduce the stigma associated with substance use.”

Meanwhile, drug test cheating is rising sharply. According to Quest Diagnostics, cheating incidents jumped more than six-fold in 2023 — the highest rate in three decades. Marijuana test positivity after workplace accidents also hit a 25-year high in 2022, coinciding with expanded legalization for recreational use in parts of the U.S., the firm said.
Experts say employers should combine drug-free workplace policies with supportive programs like confidential counseling, flexible leave for treatment and supervisor training to recognize signs of misuse. Industries with high-risk jobs, such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality and transportation, may benefit most from tailored safety programs and open conversations that reduce stigma.

Some states and trade associationrs are also developing “recovery-friendly workplace” certifications to help companies support workers while staying compliant with safety standards. Advocates argue that as marijuana legalization expands, balancing worker rights, safety and health will remain a critical challenge for employers and HR teams.

Originally reported by Carolyn Crist in Construction Dive.