Substance abuse in construction

A survey was conducted on contractors, labor union officials, owners, and designers to gather data on the extent and cost of substance abuse in the engineering and construction industry. Approximately 10% of the persons in this industry are perceived as having substance abuse problems with a resulting cost to the industry of approximately $10 billion. Alcohol is the primary problem followed by marijuana and cocaine. The respondents perceive the substance abuse problem to be greater in the industry as a whole than it is in their particular firms. Drug testing is becoming more prevalent, particularly for pre-employment situations. Employee assistance programs are being developed to help workers get help to overcome their problem. Many employers still have the attitude of identify the abusers and terminate them.