Impact of substance use on the Australian workforce

Employee substance use may incur substantial costs to society and employers through decreased workplace productivity as well as increased employee turnover, absenteeism and worker stress [1-8]. The annual cost of reduced workplace productivity associated with alcohol and illicit drug use in Australia was estimated at approximately $5 billion in 2004 [6]. In addition to financial costs, substance use may increase the risk of occupational injury, or offsite injury leading to time off work, particularly in industries which may involve a greater frequency and severity of accidents such as the construction and mining industries [9]. Similarly, it has been shown that workplace alcohol use (defined as use during work or within two hours after, or prior to, work) is associated with an increased risk of workplace injury [1]. This risk of injury, however, may be partially explained by other problem workplace behaviours which are more frequently observed among workplace substance users compared with non-users, such as deviance, unprofessionalism and dishonesty.