Bringing substance use care to the manufacturing industry

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a widespread problem, affecting millions of Americans each year. But while addiction doesn’t discriminate, it is more prevalent in certain industries—and the manufacturing industry is one of them.

Manufacturing is a broad industry and the Bureau of Labor Statistics defines employers in this sector as “plants, factories, or mills that characteristically use power-driven machines and materials-handling equipment.” That could mean a factory floor with workers at different stations or an assembly line with large machinery.

So, why are substance use issues common among manufacturing workers? And, more importantly, what can companies do to address the issue and support their employees? This post covers what you need to know about substance use in the manufacturing industry.

Substance use in the manufacturing industry

Research indicates that substance use disorders are particularly widespread among blue-collar workers, generally meaning a person who performs manual labor for an hourly wage rather than a salary.

While manufacturing isn’t at the very top of the list of industries where employees struggle most with substance use, it ranks near the middle of the pack for both alcohol and drug use. Bottom line: The levels of substance use disorder in the manufacturing industry are concerning.

Understanding the problem

Even if manufacturing isn’t the industry where circumstances are most dire, there’s still an alarming prevalence of addiction in this sector. Within the manufacturing industry:

• 1 in 10 (10%) workers reported heavy alcohol use
• 1 in 13 (8%) reported illicit drug use within the past month
• 1 in 11 (9%) reported drug or alcohol dependence during the past year

In one study, 9.3% of manufacturing workers said they struggled with a substance use disorder—which is a higher percentage of workers than in other industries like transportation, public administration, and healthcare.

Possible reasons for substance use issues in the manufacturing industry

So why are workers in the manufacturing industry particularly prone to substance use disorders? There are several factors at play.

Long work hours and job stress

Manufacturing is one of the more stressful industries to work in. Many of the jobs are both physically and mentally taxing, with long hours, physical demands, high expectations for output and quotas, and work environments that are oftentimes loud, uncomfortable, and risky.

Both job strain and long work hours have been proven to negatively affect workers’ mental health. And, unfortunately, poor mental well-being can increase substance use.

Boredom or job dissatisfaction

The manufacturing sector has faced an ongoing recruitment and retention problem, with the potential for 2.1 million manufacturing jobs to remain unfilled by 2030.

Much of this is owed to the fact that manufacturing jobs offer significantly less flexibility than other career options, which means many workers are looking elsewhere to get the benefits and work-life balance they desire.

Additionally, while some manufacturing roles can be high-stress, others often involve a lot of repetitive and mundane tasks. This rote work can lead to boredom, which is a common trigger of substance use disorders.

Physical demands and risk of injury

From standing for long periods to working with heavy (and potentially dangerous) equipment, employees in factories and other manufacturing settings are particularly prone to injury.

So, it’s unsurprising that manufacturing employees are at greater risk for exposure to prescription opioids. And, even if they aren’t prescribed pain medication, they might self-medicate using alcohol or other drugs.

Cultural norms

Because substance use is somewhat prevalent in manufacturing, it’s more readily and widely accepted. Alcohol use in particular is common in this industry, with many employees grabbing a few drinks after work to decompress.

If many employees are turning to alcohol or other substances to unwind, it doesn’t raise as many red flags that a specific person might have an issue.

Specific dangers of substance use among manufacturing workers

It’s no secret that substance use can reduce cognitive function—including impaired decision-making and slower reaction times.

Those are undesirable side effects for anybody, but particularly those who work in risky environments like manufacturing where they need to be focused and alert. When employees come to work with even slightly impaired functioning, it can lead to:

• Manufacturing errors and product defects
• Equipment damage
• Legal and regulatory risks
• Increased workplace accidents that lead to injury or even death

This is why it’s so crucial for manufacturing employers to recognize the signs of substance use disorder in employees and then take steps to support their treatment and recovery.

Why manufacturing companies should provide a substance use program

One of the best ways employers can support employees is with a substance use program. Fortunately, these efforts are becoming more widespread across all industries. In one recent survey, 94% of employers said they were making investments in providing care for mental health, which can include substance use disorders.

For manufacturing organizations that haven’t already implemented a substance use program, there are several compelling reasons why it’s worth the investment:

• Increased workplace safety: Substance use impairs cognitive functioning which can lead to more workplace accidents. Everybody benefits from a safer workplace when employees have access to the resources, support, and treatment they need (and when people aren’t operating machinery while under the influence).
• Better morale: It’s common for manufacturing environments to have low morale, with only 45% of manufacturing employees saying morale is high at their company. Focusing on supporting and improving employees’ mental well-being can give morale a much-needed boost.
• Improved bottom line: Think investing in this sort of program will involve a major financial hit? Think again. Manufacturing workers say they want safer workplaces, proving that this type of program can reduce costly employee turnover. Since substance use disorder can leads to more missed work days, that means this type of program can also decrease absenteeism. Plus, when you partner with a value-based substance use program like Carrum Health, your costs are much lower for high-quality care and your employees pay little to nothing.

All industries are prone to certain tropes, preconceived notions, and misconceptions—but substance use shouldn’t be one of them. Employers in the manufacturing industry have a responsibility to keep their workers safe. As it turns out, offering high-quality treatment and support for substance use disorders is a key piece of doing so.

Learn more about Carrum Health’s value-based substance use treatment program.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.