Few Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Are Referred by Employers


In 2011, 9.8 million adults who were employed full time had a substance use problem.1 Most employers offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) or other workplace resources to help employees with various problems including alcohol and drug abuse.2 These programs can encourage employees to seek treatment, refer employees to treatment, and provide ongoing support during and after treatment.

According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), in 2011, employment status was reported for more than 1.6 million substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18 or older. Of these, 15.4 percent (about 256,000 admissions) were employed full time (Figure 1). Among full-time employed admissions, 2.4 percent were referred to treatment by employers or EAPs (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Aged 18 or Older, by Employment Status: 2011
This is a pie chart comparing substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18 or older, by employment status: 2011. Accessible table located below this figure.

Figure 1 Table. Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Aged 18 or Older, by Employment Status: 2011
Employment Status Admissions Percentage
Employed Full Time 15.4%
Employed Part Time   7.5%
Unemployed 41.8%
Not in Labor Force 35.4%
Note: The percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.

Figure 2. Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Aged 18 or Older Employed Full Time, by Referral Source: 2011
This is a bar graph comparing substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18 or older employed full time, by referral source: 2011. Accessible table located below this figure.

Figure 2 Table. Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Aged 18 or Older Employed Full Time, by Referral Source: 2011
Referral Source Admissions Percentage
Criminal Justice System 49.2%
Individual/Self 28.5%
Other Community Referral*   9.6%
Alcohol/Drug Abuse Care Provider   5.7%
Other Health Care Provider   4.7%
Employer/Employee Assistance Program   2.4%
* Other community referral includes referrals from schools, community or religious organizations, or any federal, state, or local agency that provides aid in the areas of poverty relief, unemployment, shelter, or social welfare.
Note: The percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.

To help employees who may have substance abuse problems take advantage of EAP services, employers can build awareness of these services, share information about how these programs can improve health and well-being, and continue to reassure employees that their EAP use is confidential.3 For more information, including tips for building links between employers and the treatment system, please see Making Your Workplace Drug-Free: A Kit for Employers (https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA07-4230/SMA07-4230.pdf).

End Notes
1 Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012). Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of national findings (HHS Publication No. SMA 12-4713, NSDUH Series H-44). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
2 Jacobson, J. M., & Sacco, P. (2012). Employee assistance program services for alcohol and other drug problems: Implications for increased identification and engagement in treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 21(5), 468-475. doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00256.x
3 Reynolds, G. S., & Lehman, W. E. K. (2003). Levels of substance use and willingness to use the employee assistance program. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 30(2), 238-248.


Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2011, based on data received through October 15, 2012. TEDS is a compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance abuse problems of admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States, primarily facilities that receive public funding. TEDS is one component of the Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS), an integrated data system maintained by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, SAMHSA. For more information on TEDS see https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/teds-treatment-episode-data-set.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. The Data Spotlight may be copied without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated. Find this report and those on similar topics online at https://www.samhsa.gov/data/.