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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.
In the exposure-oriented industry of retail, success stems from customer
satisfaction and loyalty, quality products, competitive pricing and
excellent customer service. In today's fiercely competitive marketplace,
shoppers displeased with a business's quality of service can simply
take their business elsewhere. Thus, retail workers who abuse alcohol
and other drugs threaten not only the general security of themselves,
their coworkers and their patrons, but also their company's profitability.
By making America's shops alcohol and drug free, industry employers
increase not only the security and well being of the nation's consumers,
but also the profits of their individual enterprises.
A Federal government survey revealed workplace substance abuse is
a significant problem in the retail industry. Among full-time retail
employees between the ages of 18 and 49:
- 10.8 percent report that they have used illicit drugs in the
past month.
- About 22 percent report that they have used illicit drugs in
the last year.
- 8.8 percent report heavy alcohol use.1
Rates of substance abuse among workers employed in several different
areas of retail are as follows:2
| |
| Sector |
Current Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Past Year Illicit Drug Use (%) |
Current Heavy Alcohol Use (%) |
Apparel and Shoe Stores |
3.9 |
12.3 |
1.5 |
Auto Supply Stores and Gas Stations |
11.2 |
22.2 |
13.2 |
Department Stores |
5.7 |
13.1 |
3.5 |
Eating and Drinking Places |
16.3 |
28.0 |
15.4 |
Furniture and Appliance Stores |
14.4 |
20.2 |
6.2 |
Grocery Stores |
9.3 |
17.2 |
5.8 |
Other Retail Stores |
5.9 |
12.8 |
4.7 |
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The good news is that more and more retail industry employers, ranging
from large multinational corporations to small locally owned shops,
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.
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