23.9 million Americans are currently drug users, according to new report

National Survey on Drug Use and Health was released last month, and provides a valuable insight into how prominent and consequential drug use in American workplaces may be. This annual report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of substance abuse by surveying approximately 70,000 people throughout the country. The report contains information on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco in the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older. The survey found that an estimated 23.9 million Americans – 9.2 percent of the population – had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey interview. This represented increase from the 22.2 million (8.5 percent) last surveyed. Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or prescription-type psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives) used non-medically. How does this affect you? When you consider that roughly 65% of these drug users are judged to be currently employed, there is a clear issue to be considered by an employer. This workplace drug and alcohol use costs U.S. businesses an estimated $100 billion each year – don’t let your business become a statistic by putting your head in the sand when it comes to screening employees. It can be a complex and time consuming process to try and perform this type of staff testing internally. Not to mention the liability risks companies face if they choose an internal path. For those reasons, it’s always a good idea to talk to a pre-employment screening service before getting started. Contact our team today for more information on how to protect your business.    ]]>