This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
America's Discouraged, Underpaid Workforce Turns To Drugs
It’s not a fantastic time to be a job hunter in America. The US economic “recovery” officially stalled in Q1 no matter what Steve Liesman, The San Francisco Fed, and/or the BEA say after double-adjusting the numbers, and as we’ve shown, those who are highly skilled at delivering beer and wings to restaurant patrons are far better off than highly skilled factory workers or, indeed, than those with freshly-minted master’s degrees in today’s marketplace.
Of course, even for those who are lucky enough to find work, the picture isn’t pretty, as wage growth for the 80% of laborers classified by the BLS as “non-supervisors” remains largely absent, while for those unfortunate enough to be stuck in minimum wage positions, affording even a one bedroom apartment is now officially out of the question in every state.
Given this rather depressing backdrop, it’s little wonder that workers are inclined to “alter their mood” a bit before punching the clock. Indeed, over the past 24 months, a decades-old trend towards falling workplace drug usage has reversed itself, with 4% of workers now testing positive for either legal or illegal drug use:
More, via WSJ:
The share of U.S. workers testing positive for drugs appears to be on the rise, according to data from millions of workplace drug tests administered by one of the nation’s largest medical-screening laboratories.
Traces of drugs—from marijuana to methamphetamine to prescription opiates—were found in 3.9% of the 9.1 million urine tests conducted for employers by Quest Diagnostics Inc. in 2014, up from 3.7% in 2013.
While the numbers might seem small, they reflect the reversal of a longtime trend of declining drug use among workers. Before 2013, positives had dropped nearly every year for 24 years, from 13.6% in 1988 to a low of 3.5% in 2012. Some of the positive results are later discarded if a worker produces a doctor’s prescription for a legal drug, but the majority reflect illicit use, driven by increases in marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine positives, said Dr. Barry Sample, director of science and technology for Quest’s diagnostics employer solutions business.
Experts are unsure why drug usage is rising. Researchers haven’t been able to conclusively link drug consumption to economic cycles. A 2013 paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, for example, concluded that “the Great Recession did not generate a clear temporary or permanent pattern in rates of substance abuse.”
Maybe it's the weather...
- 17140 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -




I think it's called despair.
"You're in the pit of despair. Dont even think about trying to escape"
RIPS
The 4% figure is for people currently employed. Place I used to work at would routinely have 25% of all applicants wash out on drug tests.
The drug use rate would be much higher if workers could afford drugs.
Kirk is talking about pulling power back from the Central Government, Central Banks, and Central Wall Street.
Power is often Centralized in a Racket or when "Capture" occurs.
But you bring up a good point.
- How will we get cheap Booze & Beer?
- How will we get cheap Drugs and Medicine for our Spirit and our Maladies?
- How will we get cheap Booze & Beer?
- How will we get cheap Drugs and Medicine for our Spirit and our Maladies?
The (black)market always provides a way.
I'm guessing it is like Welding or working with wood.
You have to learn how to make it yourself, unless local sources are available. This would cut out the Rent Seeking by CIA or Banks.
Exactly.
Also, I doubt it is a coincidence that one of the only industries that is booming right now (drugs) is the one that isn't overburdened by Government regulation.
It is a Self-Regulatory Organization/Industry (all of them) (SRO).
But so is the CIA & DEA and I hear that the US Army is critical part of the CIA... so maybe they are a big part along with the State Department and US Aid.
Most Americans are either high or drunk. Working has nothing to do with it. They just love to get buzzed.
All government employees need to be drug tested w/o exception. That included the "elected". I demand Obama to appear on national TV this evening and pee in a cup. Even if he needs to sit down to do it.
Probably. I'd prefer it if they reached for Barter, Cash, Precious Metals and select Base Metals (Cu, Pb, Brass), and sent a Message to DC that they'll read loud & clear.
And when will more States use their Constitutional Right and "issue coin"? Suggest they mint denominations of $1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 1,000, 10,000. Suggest they use Ag, Au and Pt as materials, with large denominations encased in clear Acrylic and with fancy holograms on the inner surfaces, to aid with authentication.
And the local and State police could finally use their armored vehicles for safely escorting the intra-state transport of said Coinage.
-Kirk out.
The infographic illustrates why I prefer LSD. All of the DOT douche bags don't bother checking for it on the road side piss tests.
As a long haul trucker, I consider it a massive value for money as I am only allowed to drive 8 hours and I can spend that whole 8 hours "trippin' ballz".
Alas, they're not 'purple micro' DOT douche bags
Don't your eyes kind a dialate?
You sound legit, but would think there are side issues. Like looking like you have been driving for 12 hours when you have just started trippin.
Amen brother. LSD is the drug real men use. My favorite, and I tried them all.
Some jobs really do suck. Where it helps to smoke a little weed to get through a boring ass day.
It actually helps increase productivity on certain menial labor jobs. Unless you're mindless, than all is well. Corporate compliance sucks.
I spent years drinking after work thinking how big assholes I worked with.
Pretty sure alcohol makes me complain to myself a bit. But they were all assholes. Where I live now we have some big hard ass assholes, plus a very mixed liberal base. Somehow it works. I just try to stay away from the hard asses even if they could teach me how to do stuff.
Who doesn't love drugs?
Cheers!
:)
I used to think they might be cool or entertaining.
Maybe the best thing is taking something that numbs you out so much you want to sleep. Like a muscle relaxer or something of the sort. But then I just end up asleep, so what is the attraction.
Maybe pot would be a good change from destroying my liver.
BTW what is a brand of booze that doesn't support TBTF & Mega-corporations?
Maybe PBR Beers is an off brand here. I see people buying PBR Talls in a local bar.
PBR east of the Mississippi, MGD west of the Mississippi. Don't know why, but as cheap beers it just works out that way. Florida MGD tastes shitty, but PBR is good. Here in Calif, PBR isn't up to snuff, but MGD ain't so bad.
As to other drugs, tried maryjane back in the early 70's...smelled/tasted like smoking alfalfa and didn't care for it.
If I take an aspirin I have to go take a nap. So pills have never been my thing either. In fact I have this heavy duty pain pill I'm supposed to take three times a day, but don't because I have to mentally function. So I just put up with the pain, though it makes typos and shit more likely (especially at the end of rthe day).
If I knew how I'd market my excess vicodin and other pills. Dmaned dentist will hand out a months owrth of vicodin at three times a day for almost any dental work (back when I HAD teeth).
Honestly thanks for the comment.
I'm near the Mississippi, so must be that PBR is good here.
Was sort of wondering about MGD if Miller owned PBR, a Mega-Corporation.
No, Coors-Miller doesn't own PBR either.
page 145 is the beer holdings of Busch.
http://www.ab-inbev.com/content/dam/universaltemplate/abinbev/pdf/invest...
But doesn't list all Brands.
Hey, you wanna get high?
I think I heard a towel say that a couple of times but I can't remember, cause, you know, potholes.
Speaking of Muslims and Africa I guess there are totally new kinds of drugs over there. I mean like the plants are where drugs come from. Even in Ancient Egypt there were like Lotus flowers or Blue Lotus or something.
Ever hear the story of why the Pope's hats look like Mushrooms?
Nope.
Joe Rogan Graham Hancock and Terence Mckenna ... - YouTube
Sorry not sure which link is right. Might be a Time Waster if you are not interested.
Joe Rogan on Sacred Psilocybe Mushrooms and Evolution - YouTube
Magic Mushrooms.... - YouTube (also Joe Rogan)
Opie and Anthony: Joe Rogan and His Theory on Mushrooms ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCs-pGOOh8U
Mar 28, 2010 ... Joe Rogan getting deep and scientific on magic mushrooms and their ... I'm not sure if Joe got this idea from Terence McKenna but he made the same ... Check it out on the Thinking Allowed series here on Youtube, it's an ...
Thanks, TV88. I'll check it out.
Although they won't admit it, my guess is most, if not all religions were founded with drugs.
The popes hat is a fish head, the god Dagon. Your thinking of the Jew high priests, they had mushroom hats.
The ancient Jewish priests also wore the same fish head hat a la' Dagon.
"Experts are unsure why drug usage is rising"
Only funny sentence in the article. I would assume those Ivy towered researchers have well paid jobs and pensions and can't fathom why the little people are not content. Maybe they will find out why in a most unpleasant way.
Miffed
Yeah the Fascism is why the numbers rise.
You hire people planning to keep information and opportunity from them so you don't have to pay them more.
I was lucky after years i was able to transfer to a new job, then 3 years later an opportunity to do field work came up. Then after 10 years at the same pay rate I got a promotion that opened up something else later on. Of course even if you change jobs and get a promotion doesn't meant the people want to work with you or help you get on board.
- Keep Employees Dumb and tell them they are dumb
- Keep employees out of important meetings where they can learn more things
- Keep employees out of new projects where they will learn things
- Pass the word around that the employee is not very good, so you don't lose a cog that must be replaced
There are many strategies.
Once Labor Rate goes up, you have to start Dumbing down employees. Systemically keeping knowledge and access from them is best.
If you took away Internet porn the whole fucking government would test positive for drugs
Oh wait they don't get tested.......
Bet these MF's didn't test Congress or NSA or Any other Sleaze dept. 'cause that % would go up 10/15 points.
Also for those not in work only 4% do not consume some sort of drug.
I am swamped with fat stacks. If you know of a good cook get back to me. I have work for you. And always, stay out of my territory.
what's a fat stack and why do you cook them?
I was gonna ask him the same thing. I guess I am old. What is a Fat Stack?
At first I though he had an office and lots of paper work to do... but it made no sense that he needed a cook or others. in a Sales Region.
F*** Yeah Bitchez!!
Sorry for those that are religious or offended. I had to say it.
Too Late TV88s i'm deeply horrified . . by the apology.
Coo...
You sound like a good lad so let me know where you are and i'll have the hookers and blow over before you can say swat.
Before I ever got to Bangkok I already lost my passion for the whole game.
Tell me when it is over.
I don't get any kick from Hookers or Coke at this point. I wish I took Buddhism more serious, but couldn't give up the Drinking and Strip Bars. Now I am on a budget wondering why I don't quit drinking and try to develop an alternative.
Maybe I can learn my way out of my cynical view of the corruption... But maybe just a few pills to relax for a couple of years. Let's see 365 X 2 = 730 pills and then I just need to worry about food.
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
but i know i'll see your face again.
Let he who hath recon the White Man, Recon the number of the beast.
Or just stop Judasing me. lol
The drugs work fine, but they are not medicine.
Have you considered that you have a spiritual problem?
We all have a spiritual problem for the most part. The Young want to be beautiful and rich. The old just want to be rich. Kinda sad, man.
Spirit Problem? You're correct, just polished of the last of the Xo.
If you are drinking, then you don't have a spiritual problem right now.
But I have a brother he'll stare daggers at you for the least reason. Prickly son of a bitch. Are you prickly?
Drinking Spirits you don't have spiritual problem.
If you see the world as brown instead of Rosy, then you have a spiritual problem like me.
Sorry to bring the bad news... Now I have finished my pint, time to open the 32 oz I stashed.
Clean and Sober here, no drugs of any kind, haven't touched a drop of alcohol in two years. I like to keep a clear head so I can shoot strait.
There you go man.
Keep up the good work it is the only way to make a family work too BTW.
Pathos, Ethos, Logos.
I used to drink and use daily for a few years, but it wreaked havoc on me. Been sober a year and a half now and plan to stay that way the rest of my life. It was fun, it was awesome, but it was finite. Had to end.
Congrats on your sobriety.
Agreed. I am not the one to tell others what they can and can't do with their God given bodies unless they are shitting on my lawn, but I like my reality harsh and unaltered. If you can't take it straight, I think you ought to be backtracking for where you lost your manhood.
Im with Mr Hand, and these numbers are a joke.
Experts? Experts? LMAO!
Neo Science, Neo Studies, Quasi-Science, Quasi-Studies, Neo-Medicine, Quasi-Medicine...
Probably a good thing people are getting stoned, otherwise they'd be fully alert and may do something patriotic like hanging congressman and senators from streetlamps.
I'll just bump your comment up.
Violent Femmes | Blister in the Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aljlKYesT4 (3:24)
Illegal drug making and distribution is one of the last 'manufacturing' jobs left in the US!
All this chat about drugs and my dealers outta town until friday. Bah! I'd better toby over to Huffo Post for a reality check.
If they tested for alcohol, the number would probaly be 90%...especially if they tested the congress and the senate.
I noticed they didn't include anti-depressants. That would be off the chart. Steroids use among cops and firefighters would be interesting as well.
That's it, keep laying off Americans and replacing them with H1Bs and overseas outsourcing.
The economist can't figure out why the consumer is in despair.
I think we can safely include Lavorgna in the hallucinogens group.
Sublime - Smoke Two Joints
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0i62GnQoo0 (2:53)
First the Man smokes a joint, then the Joint smokes a Joint, then the Joint smokes the man.
First the Man drinks a drink, then the Drink drinks a drink, then the Drink Drinks the man.
Let me go ouuut like a twister in the sun
But are ya still Willin'?
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNqv85coyTw
The original is better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9wyYJJ-XSQ
I'm still working myself up to three ibuprofen a day from two.
Am I addicted?
Well here we are this is Humanism 101. First off there are many ways that humans escape from relationships, from stress, from responsiblity, from duty, from honor, from patriotism, from filial piety, from Giri.
-
- Movies, TV, Computers
- Games
- Peer play, endless chat, social networking
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Sex
- Stock Market Trading or Being a Trader/Day Trader
- Being a member of Congress getting endless Attention from Money Trust & MIC & Big Industry
- Compulsive Behavior like posting on ZH
- Following Corporate Thought
- Participating in Military or Secret Agency Activity as a special privilege (Booze Allen Contracting)
Is that enough? Wad I Miss?
I'm turning in my 401k and buying 2 hectares of prime poppy field in Afghanistan. 25% of the profits to uncle sam via the cia, another 20% to the taliban and bob's your uncle, am back in play with a good credit score. simples.
Well then you are CIA.
Fuck man. You are the problem.
No way dude. If you went through 3+ years of posts then you'd find
1) I'm my own boss
2) Spit on any .Gov
3) Detest people who stick their noses into other folk's business
Well there's more but all of the above disqualify me from FED.
Okay. I've seen your posts for a while. I just don't remember exactly what they were. I'll have to listen more.
Boycott the Secretary of State and the Justice Department. Just Say No.
Please be specific.
I have no idea what the:
- Secretary of State
- Justice Department
Actually do for us. They sound like assholes.
But 90% of what they do is for foreign countries and with foriegn nationals that want to get big time rich. Fuck how can you combat that?
What ideas do you have?
- Federal Budget is a big target
- International Assistance Budget
- State Department Budget
- Commerce Department Budget
- Military Training Bases for Foreign Military
- Cut the Budgets for 17 Spy Agencies?
Wow, good idea. 17 Agencies & DHS is too much duplication, wasted assets, wasted funding, wasted resources, and wasted secrecy by admin and congress and other government people all adding up the spending and efficiency.
It's easy: The Secretary of State is the point person for the imperialist western banks. As a side benefit, they get to wheel and deal for their own personal fortunes. The Justice Department exists to research any laws that might impede government plans to enrich themselves or the connected, to make sure there's a plan B, or a way around any legal issues without any significant repercussions. The Justice Department also researches ways to slow down and delay legal processes and actions to coincide with the changing of the guard.
Loved drugs in my younger years, specifically opium based. Been clean and sober for 5 years. I can't imagine all the addicts and psych drug users going apeshit all at once the money stops.....going to be a freakshow of epic proportions.
Cocaine and heroin are an all consuming and final tax on the junkie. Everything that the junkie can steal, connive, or beg will go to dope inc. Junkie is such an apt word for the addict.
Coke's not addictive unless you count tearing your face off IJ.
A good man always knows his limitations. With some people 2 pints and they wanna fight.
Some of the best writers, poets, musicians, doctors etc etc were junkies.
Point taken though your average run of the mill junkie will rob his mamma for the next fix.
I'm guessing that Drugs effect different people in different ways.
And I guess you don't know what you are talking about.
But it is just my opinion...
That's Intimately harsh bro!
I re-read what you said. I guess it is down the middle.
So I take it back.
No offence taken bud. Very seldom do i engage in a back and forth but seemed you wished to engage with few takers and i was free.
Normally i would post only one or two comments on posts i felt i had something to offer although i read say 25% of the articles and ALL the comments.
Good or bad you sometimes learn something or at least look at an issue from another person's perspective.
I am with WTFUD on this one. The government has no business telling you what you can and can't put in your body. If you can stay legal and keep a job, then you are good to go. If you can't and you turn to crime to feed your habit, they ought to source you for organs, preferably quickly before they are all used up.
And if the insurance company tests you and finds you doped the gills, your premiums go up 1000%. Think SR22 insurance.
The market will take care of most shit if you just get Nanny Bama and his dick spittle ilk of little fascist fairies out of the way.
You have a good point about self-actualization. We should be free to treat ourselves or have our parents chose a treatment for us. Doctors are subject to corruption. Doctors and the AMA are not Authority Figures.
Not sure what you are saying about Insurance...
"The government has no business telling you what you can and can't put in your body."
they've been doing it for years, where have you been?
FDA, 'war on drugs', big pharma, GMO, tabak, alcohol, etc etc
No wonder people are broke. They're spending all their disposable income on food. Getting the munchies becomes expensive.
Never mind the drugs...it's when the drugs run out that you have to worry...
Being a Bankster and ripping off people legally has to be a real trip.
Just ask Soros how he enjoyed things in Budapest in WW2.
Marijuana has the highest rate because it stays in the body longer, thus detectable longer = DUH!
At least, that is what I am told, no personal exerience on this, LOL!
14% in 1988 now that was a great time. I remember calling on a CFO in NY and he had a small bathroom attached to his office. During middle of the meeting he got up, went to bathroom and the snorting loud as ever. "Those were the days my friend"
It's ok, soon the NSA will be sharing your drug use habits with all of the fortune 500 companies before you even apply for a job so you will be blacklisted anyway. Also, the dynamic pricing algos will charge you higher for your online cannabis products because they know you are a known user.
No, the NSA will share the information with all the fortune 500 companies so they can figure out how to MAKE money on the person's drug habit, such as a work for free deal until you get off your habit. (The cost of the periodic drug tests are subtracted from your future draw). Think capitalism!
Many cannot get hired or will NEVER be able to work at a decent white collar corporate job not because they may test positive for drugs but because they cannot pass a criminal background check. Background checks now show arrests and any pending criminal charges as well which is a show stopper with many employers. Having a possession or trafficing drug charge on your record looks VERY BAD for future employment prospects even if now no one actually sees any jail time for possession or trafficing (selling) but it still shows up on ones criminal record.
so let me get this straight, those who are 'stuck in minimum wage positions' such that they cannot afford a one bedroom apartment can somehow afford to spend hundreds even thousands every month on drugs and it is the employers fault and the taxpayer is supposed to have to help them (and the bastard kids or kids out of wedlock that they chose to have)?? Seriously bleeding heart crap like this makes me sick... Of course there is also the tens of thousands in tattoo ink that also somehow gets spent which seems impossible on a minimum or near minimum wage salary where someone is taking home less than $1,000 per week.
Oh, c'mon. You know what they're doing. They're using that new loan thing you can put on your car (that they finally almost paid off) to buy their fix.
I thought it was taking the max student loans, this 'peer to peer' (ie. bleeding hearts lending to deadbeats with awful credit scores) lending, and bleeding heart parents giving their kids spending money of a few thousand every month..
don't forget nose rings and other assorted piercings. Yuri
ugly as crap and unless you want to work at Target, kiss any prospect of serious employment goodbye
you all will be so much easier to handle should you try to rebel against your masters.
this is not rocket science.
you are a doomed nation.
doomed
tic toc