Demonstrating that substance abuse is widespread in the workplace, a survey of Pennsylvania employees and employers for Drug Free Pennsylvania reveals that one in five workers claim to know someone who uses illegal drugs or alcohol on the job.

The Drug Free Pennsylvania survey, conducted in the summer of 2005, was funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and was conducted by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. The survey polled 502 adult Pennsylvanians who work full or part time and also polled 430 Pennsylvania employers that have a work force of less than 150.

A majority (58%) of the non-governmental employers surveyed have written drug-free workplace policies in place, although the likelihood of having a written drug-free workplace policy increases as the number of employees in the organization increases.

The survey of employers shows that nearly two in three (64%) of managers and owners say that they are “very concerned” about drug and alcohol abuse among workers, which is second only to worker safety as a top concern.  Substance abuse has direct consequences for Pennsylvania businesses.  Employers responded that increased absenteeism and reduced productivity from alcohol abuse and increased health care costs and absenteeism related to drug abuse are problems for their companies.

While drug and alcohol abuse is too common in Pennsylvania companies, the survey shows that many employees at companies with written drug-free workplace policies believe those policies have a great effect in keeping people from abusing drugs and alcohol on the job.  A sizeable plurality of these workers also believes worker safety has increased and employee drug use and absenteeism have decreased as a result of their organizations’ drug-free workplace policies.  Importantly, respondents who are employed by an organization with a drug and alcohol policy are more likely than those employed at organizations without such policies to report being satisfied with them.

The survey found that managers at companies with drug-free workplace policies believe those policies deter employee drug use.  The survey also revealed that smaller companies, where managers are closer to their workers, are less likely to have drug-free workplace policies.  In addition, according to the study half of the employees of companies without drug-free workplace policies would benefit from them.

To achieve a workplace free of health, safety and productivity hazards caused by employees’ abuse of alcohol or drugs, many employers develop drug-free workplace programs. A comprehensive drug-free workplace program generally includes five components—a drug-free workplace policy, supervisor training, employee education, employee assistance and drug testing. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Working Partners program has a Web tool called the Drug-Free Workplace Advisor Program Builder that can assist in learning about these different components.

For copies of the surveys or additional information about Drug Free Pennsylvania, visit their Web site at www.drugfreepa.org.