|
Note: The following statistics should not be attributed to the U.S. Department of Labor, but rather their respective
footnoted sources listed at the bottom of the page.
Both domestically and worldwide, American products have long been
associated with quality. In today's marketplace, manufacturing industry
employers uphold this leading position by carefully balancing technical
machinery and human talent. Clearly, manufacturers who abuse alcohol
and other drugs threaten not only their colleagues and clients, but
also America's well-established reputation as a producer of top-quality
wares. By keeping the nation's factories and workshops free of alcohol
and drugs, industry employers work to ensure that the label 'Made
in America' continues to symbolize the spirit of high-quality craftsmanship
that has for so long characterized the nation's manufacturers.
A Federal government survey revealed that workplace substance abuse
is a significant problem in both the non-durable and durable goods
sectors of the manufacturing industry. Roughly 15 percent of workers
in both sectors admit to having used illicit drugs in the last year
and about 7 percent report current heavy alcohol use.1
Rates of substance abuse among workers employed in several different
areas of the durable goods sector are as follows:2
| |
| Category |
Current Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Past Year Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Current Heavy Alcohol Use (%) |
Electrical Machinery |
5.6 |
10.3 |
2.7 |
Lumber and Wood Products |
8.9 |
15.8 |
12.0 |
Machinery |
6.7 |
12.7 |
7.3 |
Metal Industries |
6.8 |
21.4 |
10.0 |
Professional Equipment |
7.7 |
16.0 |
7.3 |
Transportation Equipment |
4.8 |
13.4 |
8.2 |
|
Rates of substance abuse among workers employed in several different
areas of the non-durable goods sector are as follows:3
| |
| Category |
Current Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Past Year Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Current Heavy Alcohol Use (%) |
Apparel Products |
6.8 |
11.5 |
3.8 |
Chemical Products |
3.6 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
Food Products |
10.3 |
18.4 |
8.3 |
Paper Products |
8.0 |
12.7 |
5.3 |
Printing and Publishing |
11.7 |
24.6 |
7.2 |
Rubber and Plastic Products |
2.5 |
11.5 |
4.1 |
Textile Products |
3.9 |
10.2 |
6.1 |
|
From large multinational corporations to relatively small businesses,
manufacturing firms across the country are implementing drug-free
workplace programs to ensure productive workforces and safe workplaces — company features that ultimately result in increased profitability and success.
Endnotes:
1 US Department of Health and Human Services Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (1996). Drug Use
among U.S. Workers: Prevalence and Trends by Occupation and Industry
Categories. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
Back to Industry List
|
