Substance Use

Substance Use/Misuse

Substance use refers to taking a drug that impacts your ability to function normally. Substance misuse refers to taking a drug differently from its intended or prescribed use. Both can cause impairment, addiction, overdose and death. Some substances are legal, like nicotine and alcohol, some are illegal, like heroin and cocaine, and some depend on where you live or work, like cannabis. The substances we’re talking about in the Workplace Wellbeing Hub all pose a safety risk because they impact how our brains work. Our brains use chemicals called neurotransmitters that “talk” to their “matching” neuroreceptors. Taking addictive substances interferes with normal brain processes and causes changes in reaction time, decision-making, motor coordination, mood and behavior.

Overdose

Substance use and misuse can cause an overdose when a person takes a toxic amount. Overdoses can happen to anyone taking any drug, regardless of whether they are addicted. Overdoses can be caused by one substance or by a combination of substances. Opioids like fentanyl cause most overdoses. Fentanyl is deadly in tiny amounts, and it's being added to fake pills that look like pharmacy pills and mixed or “cut” into other opioids, like heroin, and non-opioids, like xylazine.

In 2022, nearly 1 in 10 people who died at work died from an overdose; that’s 10% of workplace fatalities. Overdose deaths happen in all workplaces, across all demographics, industries and occupations. The largest death rates have been in construction, food services, personal care services and transportation.

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is deadly.

Substance Use Disorder

A substance use disorder is a disease resulting from a person using addictive substances regularly to the point of physical and psychological dependence. Even though substance use might be causing negative consequences, people with an SUD may not be able to stop because of brain-body changes with addiction.

Cost

Substance use also is costly to workplaces. The average worker misses 15 days a year for illness, injury or reasons other than vacation and holidays. Workers struggling with addiction miss an average of 25 days a year, most associated with illness and injury. Workers in recovery miss the fewest, averaging 11 days.

Recovery

50 million American adults consider themselves in recovery, which is “a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential.” Recovery is as unique as the person recovering. For some it might include formal treatment at a center through medication, group therapy, individual therapy, etc. For others it could be a combination of formal care, faith-based care, peer-support, self-care and more. Some might need to stop using drugs and alcohol completely, while others might be able to reduce their use to non-problematic amounts or infrequent occasions.

Employers can support workers struggling with substance use. Learn about recovery supportive workplaces.

"For each employee in recovery, estimated annual savings to employers ranges from $1,155 per capita in agriculture to $8,466 in the information and communications sector" - NSC Cost Calculator >>