Drug Use Among U.S. Workers:   Prevalence & Trends by Occupation and Industry

Chapter 8:   Illicit Drug and Heavy Alcohol Use Among Part-Time Workers

The final set of results shown in table 8.1 and table 8.3 present the estimated percentages of part-time workers, ages 18-49, who reported current illicit drug use, past year illicit drug use, and heavy alcohol use by occupation and industry. Since there are relatively few part-time workers from the target age range in the NHSDA sample, the broader, collapsed 15 occupation categories and 15 industry categories are used. Since the reader may also wish to have a comparison for these results, table 8.2 and table 8.4 present the parallel percentages for full-time workers. The four tables in this chapter are similar to Tables 3.4-3.8 in that each provides the standard codes, unweighted sample sizes, estimated populations sizes, percent female, and average age in each occupation and industry category.

Two observations that may affect the distribution of illicit drug and heavy alcohol use are apparent when comparing part-time workers to full-time workers. First, compared to full-time workers, part-time workers include a much higher proportion of females (41.4 percent vs. 66.9 percent). Second, the average age among part-time workers is much lower than among full-time workers (27 vs. 35). As noted previously, both gender and age are important predictors of illicit drug and heavy alcohol use.

The results shown in Table 8.1 indicate that part-time workers from the following occupations had the highest rates of current and past year illicit drug use and heavy alcohol use: Construction; Farming, Fishing, and Forestry; Transportation and Material Moving (heavy alcohol use suppressed due to low precision); and Handlers and Helpers. Construction and Handlers and Helpers also had the highest rates among full-time workers.

Furthermore, part-time workers from the following industries reported the highest rates of current and past year illicit drug use and heavy alcohol use: Construction; Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; and Entertainment and Recreation. Full-time workers from these industries also reported high rates of illicit drug and heavy alcohol use.

Overall, part-time workers were more likely to report using illicit drugs than full-time workers. This was particularly true for the following occupations: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry; Construction; and Transportation. Part-time workers in these occupations were twice as likely as full-time workers to use illicit drugs. There were few differences found between part-time and full-time workers’ rates of heavy alcohol use.

Note: The standard codes are derived from the U.S. Department of Labor standard classification system. See Appendix C for specific codes and occupations. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the previous 30 days.

*Low precision; no estimate reported.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1991-1993.

Note: The standard codes are derived from the U.S. Department of Labor standard classification system. See Appendix C for specific codes and occupations. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the previous 30 days.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1991-1993.

Table 8.3 (continued) Percentage of Part-Time Workers, Ages 18-49, Reporting Drug Use, by Industry Categories, 1991-1993
						Percentage Reporting Drug Use
Industry Category	Standard Codes	Unweighted Sample Size	Estimated Population Size	Percent Female	Average Age	Current Illicit Drug Use	Past Year Illicit Drug Use	Heavy Alcohol Use
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	700-712	318	614,823	80.3	29.6	5.2	16.6	1.0
Business & Repair Services	721-760	646	1,125,405	65.4	29.9	10.8	20.9	7.6
Personal Services	761-791	444	875,742	86.8	32.0	9.0	16.6	5.5
Entertainment & Recreation	800-802	196	348,358	41.4	25.6	15.5	33.8	7.2
Professional & Related Services	812-892	1925	4,649,192	81.0	33.2	6.6	13.6	3.1
Public Administration	900-932	134	254,216	61.7	35.1	*	10.8	6.6

Note: The standard codes are derived from the U.S. Department of Labor standard classification system. See Appendix C for specific codes and industries. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the previous 30 days.

*Low precision; no estimate reported.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1991-1993.

Table 8.4 (continued) Percentage of Full-Time Workers, Ages 18-49, Reporting Drug Use, by Industry Categories, 1991-1993
						Percentage Reporting Drug Use
Industry Category	Standard Codes	Unweighted Sample Size	Estimated Population Size	Percent Female	Average Age	Current Illicit Drug Use	Past Year Illicit Drug Use	Heavy Alcohol Use
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	700-712	2,464	4,801,621	57.4	34.6	5.4	14.6	4.5
Business & Repair Services	721-760	2,481	4,586,556	28.0	34.3	11.1	19.8	9.7
Personal Services	761-791	1,251	2,277,289	63.6	33.8	10.3	19.3	5.8
Entertainment & Recreation	800-802	434	854,674	27.2	33.2	13.7	24.3	6.7
Professional & Related Services	812-892	6,665	16,877,039	67.4	36.4	4.2	10.4	3.2
Public Administration	900-932	2,096	4,432,393	39.2	36.1	3.5	8.5	6.8

Note: The standard codes are derived from the U.S. Department of Labor standard classification system. See Appendix C for specific codes and industries. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the previous 30 days.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1991-1993.

This page was last updated on June 16, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.