#20 - Nearly 9% of Younger Workers Use Alcohol or Drugs at Work
About This Episode
Hosts Danielle Farage and Mervyn Dinnon discuss a recent headline about younger workers and substance use in the workplace. Danielle begins by sharing her weekend, which included a course on public speaking and a trip to Long Island to visit family. Mervyn recounts his weekend activities, which involved an open-air concert in Kent and a walk along the River Thames. The hosts dive into the main topic, prompted by the statistic that nearly 9% of younger workers use alcohol or drugs at work. Mervyn initially finds the headline to be "clickbait" and compares it to past workplace cultures, recalling a time in the UK when drinking during lunch was common, though not necessarily at one's desk. Danielle references a study from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine that found 5.6% of employees surveyed drank alcohol at work, while 3.1% used marijuana and 0.8% used hard drugs. The study also showed higher substance abuse among food industry, white-collar, and safety-sensitive workers. Danielle notes that while drug positivity rates have decreased, drug test cheating has increased, suggesting people may be using substances on weekends and trying to avoid detection at work. She questions the practice of drug and alcohol testing for recreational use, arguing that workplace policies should reflect the evolving cultural perspective on these substances. Mervyn and Danielle also discuss the historical context of substance use in the workplace. Danielle mentions a statistic that in 1971, one in ten US executives were considered "functioning alcoholics". Mervyn points out that people often underestimate the lingering effects of substances on their work performance the following day. Danielle concludes the conversation by suggesting that the concept of using "uppers" to get through the workday is not new, but the methods have changed. She highlights the rise of supplements and other "healthier ways" to achieve a boost, noting a shift from traditional substances to things like "functional mushrooms" and "neuro gum". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices