title: Prevalence of alcohol and drug use in a highly educated workforce.
abstract: This study examined alcohol and licit and illicit drug use in a highly educated workforce. A comprehensive health survey of a 10% random sample of a workforce (n = 8,567) yielded a 60% response rate (n = 504) after accounting for 15 undeliverable surveys. Many respondents reported past-year use of alcohol (87%). Thirteen percent of respondents consumed three or more drinks daily; 15% were binge drinkers. Twelve percent of the workforce was assessed as having a high likelihood of lifetime alcohol dependence; 5% of respondents met criteria for current problem drinking. Overall, 42% reported using mood-altering prescription drugs (analgesics, antidepressants, sedatives, or tranquilizers). Eleven percent reported using illicit drugs (cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, or marijuana) in the past year. Significant relationships were found between gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation with some measures of alcohol consumption and use of mood-altering drugs. These results indicate prevention and early intervention programs need to address use of mood-altering substances (including alcohol) in highly educated workforces.
authors.affiliation: CopingMatters Program, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5724, USA. rmatano@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Matano
authors.forename: Stanley F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wanat
authors.forename: Darrah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westrup
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Shelly D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Whitsell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012650:Self Disclosure; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006213:Hallucinogens; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines