Identifying predictors of Australian workers’ illicit substance use: A nationally representative study

The use of illicit substances among the Australian workforce has significant implications for workers’ health, productivity, and workplace safety. To inform targeted interventions, the present study examined the prevalence of weekly illicit drug use among Australian workers, identified the specific substances being used, and analysed the sociodemographic, health, and behavioural factors associated with increased use. This study involved a secondary data analysis of employed participants (N = 12,557) from the nationally representative 2022–23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Seven percent (estimated N = 913,356) of workers indicated that they engage in weekly illicit drug use, with a substantial majority of users reporting cannabis use (5.35 %). The Construction industry was identified as the industry of concern when considering both the estimated number of users (N = 88,142) and the prevalence of use (10.23 %). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that factors including male gender (OR = 1.78, 95 % CI [1.28, 2.47]), being 14–24 years old (OR = 3.91, 95 % CI [1.45, 10.55]), unmarried status (OR = 1.86, 95 % CI [1.25, 2.76]), chronic pain (OR = 1.82, 95 % CI [1.11, 2.99]), smoking (OR = 3.45, 95 % CI [2.41, 4.94]), and high-risk alcohol consumption (OR = 7.89, 95 % CI [3.28, 18.98]) were all linked to higher odds of engaging in illicit drug use. The findings from this paper can guide policymakers and organisations in developing targeted interventions for individuals at high risk of illicit drug use, thereby enhancing the health and productivity of the Australian workforce.