Chronic alcohol and drug users continue to engage in drug related activities sometimes regardless of whether or not they are in the work place. If an individual finds themselves continually drinking or using drugs before, during or even after work, they may want to seek drug treatment. Many treatment options are available including a self-empowering approach where individualized treatment plans are created to treat underlying issues and related problems including dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Through a self-empowering approach, individuals will gain a sense of self control and purpose, as well as learn solid problem solving skills, good health habits, and ways to engage in meaningful relationships.

In the United States, the majority of alcohol and drug treatment research related to substance use norms has been carried out on college campuses. Comparatively little research on substance use norms has been conducted in the workplace. The workplace may be a powerful and influential social context for U.S. adults in regard to substance use norms. Frone and Brown examined the relation of workplace substance use norms and individual employee use (2010).

The research explored norms concerning both alcohol and illicit drug use. Data was recruited from 2,430 adult participants using a random-digit-dial telephone survey; 55 percent of the samples were female. The survey assessed overall employee substance use, use before work, use during the workday, and use after work. Data were also collected on injunctive norms and descriptive norms in the workplace. Injunctive norms are perceived as being approved by others. Descriptive norms are perceptions of how other people are behavior in reality.

Results showed that injunctive norms regarding workplace alcohol and drug use predicted substance use as well as overall impairment. Descriptive norms predicted alcohol and drug use before and during work as well as impairment in the workplace. The authors concluded that both workplace injunctive and descriptive norms are important predictors of substance use in the U.S. workplace. The researchers suggest that social norms marketing campaigns may be an effective way for employers to reduce substance use by employees.

In 2006 Frone reported the results of his National Study of Workplace Health and Safety. The study estimated that 15 percent of the U.S. workforce report work-related alcohol use. Work-related illicit drug use was reported by 3 percent of the workforce. In previous research, Frone has found that permissive workplace norms regarding substance use are related to lower perceptions of workplace safety, higher levels of work strain, and lower levels of employee morale. Alcohol and drug treatment providers should consider workplace norms and influences during treatment and recovery. Individualized treatment plans can also be created for employees in drug treatment to help them cope with underlying issues that may have lead them to use drugs regardless of whether they were in the work place or not.

Substance use does not have to be a norm in the workplace and implementing marketing campaigns may be beneficial in reducing substance use by employees. Alcohol consumption and drug use by employees before, during and after work can be very dangerous and may lead to many future problems.

Frone MR, Brown AL. Workplace substance-use norms as predictors of employee substance use and impairment: a survey of U.S. workers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2010; 71(4): 526-534.

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