Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Are Using Substances at Work to Cope With Stress, Study Finds

Financial pressure, healthcare gaps, and nonstop tension are pushing employees to cope in risky ways—often during the workday itself.

BY BRUCE CRUMLEY @BRUCEC_INC

Illustration: Inc; Photo: Getty Images

As both business owners and their employees know all too well, the challenges, divisions, threats and conflicts of modern society often make their way into the workplace, stoking tensions there as well. A new study finds a vast majority of Americans reporting that they’re using substances to deal with that building stress, including about 30 percent of workers consuming them on the job.

The surging use of alcohol, narcotics, and other substances was measured in a survey of 1,000 people by addiction treatment directory Drug Rehab USA. Its top line finding that a stunning 99 percent of “Americans report using at least one substance to manage daily stress” is cause for alarm on its own. But it also determined that 53 percent of respondents said their consumption had increased over the past year. Perhaps just as troubling, another 53 percent said their first daily intake comes before 5 p.m., while 18 percent said it occurs before 9 a.m.

“The sheer number of Americans who turn to substances just to get through the day illustrates the fact that nowadays, distress is most people’s natural state,” the study said. “Many Americans are juggling more responsibilities than they can handle. Among those who use substances, usage is happening earlier and earlier in the day.”That includes the workday.

Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they had consumed one or several substances in connection with their employment. That included 30 percent who reported using them before clocking on, 20 percent while on the job, and 10 percent during meetings or business calls. Only a fifth of participants said they’ve never taken any condition altering substances that involved or affected their work.

How Anthropic's Claude AI Became a Co-Founder

Alcohol was the most common chemical support, cited by 57 percent of participants. That was followed by cannabis at 54 percent, nicotine at 48 percent, prescription anxiety and sleeping medication, painkillers, and stimulants at 44 percent. Illicit drug use was reported by 7 percent of respondents

The top stressors that survey participants pointed to as influencing their use were mainly financial, including rising costs of groceries, everyday living items, utilities, and rent. Income instability and rising debt were also cited, as were politically-linked concerns like mass deportations.

“Amid economic instability and constant upsetting headlines, it’s no wonder the country is more stressed than ever,” the study said. “While many Americans are turning to alcohol, drugs, and nicotine for an escape, the reality of this stress can be all too consuming once the high wears off. As a result, many people are looking for a more permanent escape from the country.”

© Inc.com