Rates of Heavy Alcohol Use by Profession
According to a recent publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) people employed by the mining industry have the highest rate of heavy alcohol use. In SAMHSA’s National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSUDH) it was found that workers in traditionally blue-collar jobs had the highest rate of heavy alcohol use within the past month. According to the survey, the industries with the highest heavy alcohol consumption rates were:
- Mining
- Construction
- Accommodations and food services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Utilities
- Wholesale trade
On the lower end of the spectrum were those employed in educational services and health care and social assistance. Compared to the previous survey, employees in educational services, mining, construction and manufacturing have a higher rate of heavy alcohol consumption while those in finance and insurance, information, real estate, rental and leasing have a slightly lower rate of heavy alcohol use among adults 18 to 64 employed full-time by the industry.
It is unclear why certain industries have a higher rate of substance use disorder. In some cases, the rate of heavy alcohol use may be attributable to the overall age and gender of the workforce while in others it may be the stress and demands of the job. Heavy alcohol use can greatly affect work performance. Employees with alcohol use disorder are more likely to have repeated absences, be late or otherwise unprepared. If you believe that you or a family member may be suffering from substance use disorder, it is important to know that there are options for getting help. Addiction treatment is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach.