The highest rates of drug usage were reported by restaurant workers (17.4 percent) and construction workers (15.1 percent). Teachers and social service workers were among those with the lowest rates of usage, with about 4 percent reporting illegal drug use in the past month.

The study also included statistics regarding usage rates by age group. Younger full-time workers reported the highest rates; 19 percent of workers age 18 to 25 said they used illegal drugs during the past month. That compares with 10.3 percent among those age 26 to 34, 7 percent among those age 35 to 49 and 2.6 percent among those age 50 to 64.

Men were also more likely to report illegal drug use in the past month - 9.7 percent for men, versus 6.2 percent for women.

The SAMSHA study also examined heavy alcohol use by workers. Heavy alcohol use was defined as drinking five or more drinks on one occasion at least five times in the past 30 days, with 8.8 percent of workers reporting such behavior.

SAMHSA officials describe the survey as a snapshot and state that it was not designed to show whether workplace illicit drug use is a growing problem or a lessening one.

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(Source: http://www.msnbc.com)