Cover Story
Some occupations are more likely to experience higher rates of alcohol and drug use than others, according to a 1997 analysis conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Percentage of full-time workers, ages 18-49, reporting current illicit drug use and heavy alcohol use by occupation.
| Current illicit drug use | Heavy alcohol use | |
| Total | 7.6 | 8.4 |
| Executive, administrative and managerial | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Professional specialty | 5.1 | 4.3 |
| Technicians and related support | 5.5 | 6.2 |
| Sales | 11.4 | 8.3 |
| Administrative support | 5.9 | 3.5 |
| Protective service | 3.2 | 6.3 |
| Food preparation, waitstaff and bartenders | 11.2 | 12.2 |
| Other service | 5.6 | 5.1 |
| Precision production and repair | 7.9 | 13.1 |
| Construction | 15.6 | 17.6 |
| Extractive and precision production | 8.6 | 12.9 |
| Machine operators and inspectors | 10.5 | 13.5 |
| Transportation and material moving | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Handlers, helpers and laborers | 10.6 | 15.7 |
SOURCE: "An Analysis of Worker Drug Use and Workplace Policies and Programs," Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, July 1997.
