Workplace Substance Abuse: How Alcohol and Drug Use Affect Job Performance

Key Takeaways

• Substance use can happen in any workplace, and it may affect safety, attendance, and job performance.
• Workplace factors like low supervision, high stress, and a culture that tolerates drinking may increase risk.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and Drug-Free Workplace Programs offer confidential support and may help reduce alcohol-related problems.
• Early support through an EAP or treatment program may help lower the risk of accidents, job loss, and long-term health concerns.

Fred and their coworker and friend, Todd, regularly take their dinner breaks together while working the afternoon shift at a large manufacturing plant. Every evening, both Fred and Todd bring a thermos filled with an alcoholic beverage to their meals. In four years of doing this, no one has questioned the two about drinking on the job. Fred and Todd say they are not the only plant employees who drink at work.

Fred and Todd are taking a big risk. Not only is it against company policy to drink on the job, they are also increasing the chance of an accident or injury. When they return to the plant floor, which has dangerous machinery, they may not notice changes in muscle coordination, reflexes, or judgment. Alcohol can affect all of these, and even mild impairment may contribute to an accident.

Dangers of Substance Use at Work

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), many people who use drugs or alcohol also work. Some workplaces also report that alcohol or other drugs may play a role in serious job-related accidents.

A study by Michael Frone, Ph.D., from the Research Institute on Addictions at the University at Buffalo, New York, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology (Vol. 91, 2006), found that some employees reported using illicit drugs at work, and many of those employees reported doing so weekly. The study also estimated that a small percentage of employed adults use illicit drugs while at work, and some reported feeling impaired while working. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) also reported that, in reviews of some emergency room data for workplace injuries, a portion of patients met criteria for at-risk drinking (a pattern of alcohol use that raises the chance of harm).

Substance use can also affect coworkers. NCADD has reported that some workers and managers felt that a coworker’s on- or off-the-job drinking affected their own productivity and safety.

Contributing Factors in Employees' Use of Substances at Work

Illicit substance use at work can create safety risks. Some workplace factors may help explain why it happens. The University at Buffalo study by Michael Frone, Ph.D. includes data suggesting that low supervision of worker behavior, a lack of formal policies, and high-stress work environments may contribute to illicit substance use at work.

NCADD has also described workplace culture as a factor. For example, some work settings may tolerate drinking more than others. A 2025 Frontiers review found workplace tolerance may increase drinking risk.

Another factor noted by NCADD is workplace alienation, which is when an employee feels disconnected from the organization and has less concern for it. These feelings can stem from believing their job does not feel meaningful in other parts of their life. Work that feels boring, stressful, or isolating may contribute to workplace alienation and risky drinking. Some research has linked job dissatisfaction to harmful drinking.

Employee drinking has also been associated with:

• Low job autonomy
• Lack of job complexity
• Lack of control over work conditions and products
• Sexual harassment
• Verbal and physical aggression
• Disrespectful behavior

How Illicit Substance Use Affects Workplace Performance

Illicit substance use can endanger workers, and it can also create costs for employers through lost productivity and reduced efficiency. NCADD has reported that illicit substances at work may affect performance in the following ways:

• Tardiness
• Sleeping on the job
• Theft
• Poor decision-making
• Loss of efficiency
• Lower morale among coworkers
• Increased likelihood of having trouble with coworkers, supervisors, or tasks
• Higher turnover
• Costs of training new employees
• Disciplinary procedures

Efforts to Help Workers and Workplaces

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, NCADD began working with employers to address alcohol use concerns. This work contributed to the early development of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

Today, EAP and Drug-Free Workplace Programs (DFWPs) can help employees and their families by supporting referrals to community resources and services. Some employers with EAP and DFWP programs report improvements in morale and productivity and decreases in absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft. Some employers also report better health among employees and family members and reduced use of medical benefits.

The Economic Effect of Illicit Substance Use in the Workplace

Illicit substance use can create major costs for workplaces and the broader economy. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy has published past estimates on the economic impact of drug use in the workforce.

Effectiveness of EAPs in Reducing Workplace Substance Use

Research on EAP effectiveness is limited, and it can be hard to separate the impact of EAPs from other referral and treatment options. Still, some studies suggest EAPs may help reduce alcohol-related problems for some employees.

Many EAPs aim to make support easy to access. For example, employees may reach out through informal self-referral, instead of being pressured into using services.

EAPs often present themselves as employee-friendly resources for a wide range of personal concerns, including alcohol and drug problems. Some employees may feel more comfortable using EAP services when they understand the program’s confidentiality policies. Supportive supervisor attitudes may also make it easier for employees to seek help.

Workplace substance use can affect your safety, your health, and your job. Fortunately, resources and education can help you address these risks. As support becomes easier to access, workplaces and employees may benefit.

There Is Hope for Recovery

Substance use concerns are treatable, and a life of freedom may be possible. You can connect with drug and alcohol treatment centers that may fit your needs, from holistic care to medication-assisted treatment. If you’re ready for support, find a recovery program that works for you.