Nearly 1 in 11 Young Workers Used Substances Right Before or During Work | Research

The takeaway

Among US workers in their early 30s, 8.9% reported using substances at work in the past month, with food service workers at highest risk and marijuana use at 3.1% prevalence.

Employers developing workplace substance policies, occupational health researchers, safety-sensitive industry regulators.

3.1% of young US workers used marijuana right before or during work in the past month

What the researchers found

8.9% of workers reported past-month substance use at work: 5.9% alcohol, 3.1% marijuana, 0.8% cocaine/hard drugs. Food preparation/serving occupations had the highest prevalence, followed by safety-sensitive occupations. Food service workers had higher risks for all substance types; white-collar workers had elevated alcohol use; safety-sensitive workers had elevated alcohol and marijuana use.

Why it matters

Workplace substance use poses risks to users, coworkers, and the public, especially in safety-sensitive jobs. The 3.1% marijuana prevalence at work is notable as cannabis legalization expands and workplace drug policies evolve.

The numbers in context

n=6,155; 8.9% any substance at work; 5.9% alcohol; 3.1% marijuana; 0.8% cocaine/hard drugs; food preparation/serving occupations had highest prevalence.

How the study worked

Analysis of National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) data from 6,155 respondents in their early 30s. Past-month workplace substance use prevalence assessed by occupation. Multivariable Poisson regression adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-reported data likely underestimates true workplace substance use. Focused on workers in their early 30s, which may not represent all age groups. Cannot determine whether substance use caused workplace problems. Cross-sectional design.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: Large nationally representative longitudinal survey with occupation-specific analysis, though self-reported workplace substance use is likely underestimated.

When this study was published

Published in 2025 using NLSY97 data.

The bigger picture

As cannabis legalization expands, employers and policymakers must grapple with workplace cannabis policies. This study shows marijuana use at work is already common among young adults, particularly in food service and safety-sensitive occupations.

Questions still open

How do workplace cannabis policies differ by state legalization status? Is cannabis-impaired work performance meaningfully different from alcohol-impaired performance? Would workplace intervention programs reduce on-the-job use?

Common questions

Which jobs had the highest workplace substance use?

Food preparation and serving occupations had the highest prevalence of all types of workplace substance use. Safety-sensitive occupations also showed elevated rates, particularly for alcohol and marijuana.

Why are workers in their early 30s particularly affected?

The early 30s represent a period of heightened substance use overall. The study specifically chose this age group because they are established in their careers but still in a demographic window of elevated substance use risk.

Read the original research

Substance Use Right Before or During Work Among the Young US Workers: Evidence From the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort.

American journal of industrial medicine, 68(8), 679-687

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Oh, Sehun; Park, Daejun; Al-Hashemi, Sarah. (2025). Substance Use Right Before or During Work Among the Young US Workers: Evidence From the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort.. American journal of industrial medicine, 68(8), 679-687. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23737