The economic costs of alcohol-related absenteeism and reduced productivity among the working population of New Zealand

Abstract

Lost productivity accounts for a significant proportion of the total cost of alcohol. This study quantifies the costs associated with alcohol consumption using survey data collected from four alcohol surveys conducted in Auckland between November 1990 to May 1992. The total sample size was 4662, of which 2638 were drinkers in paid employment. A computer-assisted telephone interviewing system was used to interview a random sample that closely matched the Auckland population. Respondents gave information about their typical alcohol consumption and frequency of absences from paid employment which were a result of their drinking. They also gave a report of the number of times in the past 12 months when they felt their work had been impaired as a result of their drinking. The cost of absenteeism was recorded as the number of times a respondent reported time away from work multiplied by gross income. Estimates of reduced work efficiency were derived from US figures, which estimated a 25% reduction in work performance among heavy alcohol users; 3.7% of the sample reported alcohol-related absences and 12% reported reduced efficiency days. There was a significant difference in both the number and cost of absentee and reduced efficiency days reported between the top 10% and the bottom 10% drinkers. A conservative estimate of alcohol-related lost productivity among the working population of New Zealand (with a population of 3.4 million and a per capita absolute alcohol consumption of 9.7 litres) was found to be $57 million per year.

Alcohol consumption and workplace absenteeism: The moderating effect of social support.

“…More specifically, these studies propose that a higher level of modal alcohol consumption has an adverse impact on employee health which in turn increases the probability and/or duration of workplace absence. Indeed, research has consistently shown that excessive drinking over time increases the risk of a wide variety of chronic health problems including liver, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular problems (Hanebuth, Meinel, & Fischer, 2006; Jones, Casswell, & Zhang, 1995). Moreover, the incidence and severity of such chronic health problems have been directly associated with the level of employee sickness absence (Gmel & Rehm, 2003; Jones et al, 1995).…”

Once is too much: Conditioned aversion develops immediately and predicts future cocaine self-administration behavior in rats.

“…Along with society, the addict and his or her family also suffer because substance abuse, dependence, and addiction are associated with an apparent devaluation of, and inattention to, natural rewards. Indeed, according to the DSM-IV, substance abuse and dependence involve a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home, the giving up of important social, occupational, or recreational activities, and continued drug use in spite of recurrent physical, legal, social, or psychological problems (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Goldstein et al, 2007; Jones, Casswell, & Zhang, 1995; Nair et al, 1997; Santolaria-Fernandez et al, 1995). …”

Overexpression of ΔFosB is associated with attenuated cocaine-induced suppression of saccharin intake in mice.

“…Although progress has been made in understanding the effects of ΔFosB in numerous aspects of drug addiction, one area that has not been investigated is the effect of ΔFosB on drug-induced devaluation of natural rewards. In humans, this phenomenon is manifested in reduced motivation for work, friends, family, and monetary gain (e.g., Goldstein et al, 2006, 2008; Jones, Casswell, & Zhang, 1995; Nair et al, 1997; Santolaria-Fernandez et al, 1995). …”