National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Every year the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) conducts a National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The survey is the primary source of information on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older. Approximately 67,500 persons are interviewed in NSDUH each year.

For employers two of the more important highlights were:

• The rate of current use of illicit drugs among young adults aged 18 to 25 increased from 19.7 percent in 2008 to 21.3 percent in 2012, driven largely by an increase in marijuana use (from 16.6 percent in 2008 to 18.7 percent in 2012).
• Among unemployed adults aged 18 or older in 2012, 18.1 percent were current illicit drug users, which was higher than the rates of 8.9 percent for those who were employed full time and 12.5 percent for those who were employed part time. However, most illicit drug users were employed.
• Of the 21.5 million current illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2012, 14.6 million (67.9 percent) were employed either full or part time.

These two bullet points should be a warning to employers who do not do pre-employment drug testing. It should also put employers on notice that pre-employment testing alone is not sufficient. Employers need to be aware that life changes and so do the habits of their employees.