In a study conducted by The Recovery Village® , 63% of employed participants said they’d increased substance use since COVID-19. This statistic supports expert predictions that substance abuse would rise throughout the pandemic, in addition to the rates of addiction afterward due to stress, isolation, boredom and decreased access to recovery resources. With substance abuse increasing and quarantine continuing, it’s important for employers to be aware of what’s happening, the impact it has on workplace safety, and what they can do to maintain a drug-free, safe workforce.

Survey Findings

From an ongoing nationwide survey, The Recovery Village® has created an interactive map based on monthly reports of 1,000 Americans, ages 18 and older, regarding their drug and alcohol use in the last month. The statistics below reflect the responses of employed participants.

MOST COMMON REASONS FOR INCREASED SUBSTANCE USE

• Stress – 58%
• Anxiety/Depression – 32%
• Boredom – 40%

MOST COMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCES

• Alcohol – 90%
• Marijuana – 38%
• Opioids – 16%
• Benzodiazepines – 12%
• Cocaine – 11%
• Methamphetamine – 6%
• Heroin/Fentanyl – 4%
• Other – 2%

USAGE TRENDS IN THE PAST MONTH

• Alcohol Use Increase – 61%
• Drug Use Increase – 37%

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Recommendations for Employers

• Maintain drug and alcohol testing programs using a third-party administrator such as TEAM Professional Services
• Ensure supervisors are up-to-date on reasonable suspicion training; learn more or sign-up today
• Implement contractor drug and alcohol compliance audits to maintain and hiring company compliance

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TPS Alert was founded by the leaders of TEAM Professional Services, a Third-Party Administrator of drug and alcohol testing for Operators and contractors.  TPS Alert provides the dedicated resources, expertise, and support needed to effectively evaluate, audit, and improve contractor drug & alcohol programs, so they are compliant with client-specific and regulatory standards.

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