Thanks in part to  a drastic increase in prescription narcotic abuse among the public, drug use on the job has also increased — and with alarming effects for employers. The following infographic, courtesy of Compliance and Safety, illustrates the magnitude of the problem.

The infographic goes even further by breaking down drug use by industry and company size.

Employers have options, however, including:

• The government-funded Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA), which offers resources on maintaining a drug-free workplace.
• The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) offers information on the effects of drug abuse and how to initiate prevention and treatment measures.
• The United States Department of Labor’s “drug-free workplace policy builder” helps organizations develop a customized drug-free workplace policy statement.
• EmploymentDrugTesting.com offers information and services regarding employee drug testing.