Drug Abusers on the Job

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Abstract
Drug abusers in the working population range from the functional to the dysfunctional. Functional drug-abusing employees may work as productive members of a company for years without incident or detection. Cases have been documented of long-term heroin addicts with stable 10- and 20-year work histories., Studies of drug addicts in treatment with known work histories reveal that such persons can, and do, hold a broad range of jobs in the work force. In a study by Levy of 95 former addicts with histories of simultaneous employment and undetected drug abuse (including on-the-job use by 91 of the 95 addicts), the following occupations were found: bank teller; mail clerk; secretary; delivery man; stock clerk; college registrar; typist; baker; nurses aide; medical supply clerk; messenger; pharmacy clerk; receptionist; teletype operator; men's clothing salesman; truck driver; busboy; telephone installer; roofer; clothing designer; assembly line worker; waitress; auto mechanic; security officer; postal worker; credit collector; plant manager; and rigger. Reports from CODAP, a Federal statistical system covering drug treatment programs, indicate that about 20% of opiate users admitted to treatment were employed full time at the time of admission. Caplovitz found that the stable worker-addict is more similar in basic characteristics to other workers than to nonworking addicts.

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