Gen Z and Substance Use at Work: What the Data Shows
A recent survey conducted by Drug Rehab USA polled 1,000 U.S. adults across four generations to understand how stress influences substance use during the workday. The findings reveal that 35 % of Gen Z respondents reported using cannabis, alcohol, or prescription medications before their shift begins, while 56 % turn to substances after work to cope with job‑related stress. Nearly one‑third admitted using during breaks, often slipping out to their cars or workplace bathrooms. Only 21 % said they remain substance‑free while on the clock.
How Gen Z Compares to Other Cohorts
Although the numbers for Gen Z are striking, they are not isolated to the youngest workers. Millennials actually reported slightly higher pre‑work use at 37 %, and 62 % said they rely on alcohol to manage stress, compared with 61 % of Gen Z. Across all generations surveyed, alcohol emerged as the most common substance (57 %), followed by cannabis (54 %) and nicotine (48 %). Prescription anxiety or sleep aids were used by 26 %, stimulants such as Adderall by 9 %, painkillers or opioids by 9 %, and illicit drugs by 7 %.
Underlying Drivers of Use
Eighty‑four percent of participants linked their substance use to financial stress, citing rising grocery and living costs (61 %), utility bills (43 %), and housing or rent expenses (41 %). For a generation that came of age during a pandemic, entered a volatile job market, and faces a relentless news cycle, turning to readily available substances can feel like a pragmatic, if unhealthy, coping strategy.
Accessibility also plays a major role. Seventy‑nine percent of respondents said substances feel more accessible, affordable, or effective than traditional mental‑health care. When therapy appointments can involve months‑long waitlists and prohibitive co‑pays, a vape pen or a drink can be obtained in minutes. This dynamic is reflected in spending habits: over a third of those surveyed spend $50 or more each week on substances, with 15 % exceeding $100 weekly.
Expert Perspective
Andrew McKenna, deputy director of the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence/Westchester, Inc., and co‑author of the study, emphasized that the issue is not a lack of coping ability but a shift in how stress is managed. “It’s not that Gen Z can’t cope with stress, but they’re dealing with a version of life that feels like it’s always on, and it’s hard to take a step back,” he told the New York Post. “What we’re seeing is how coping has changed from actually managing stress to merely getting through it and surviving.”
Broader Implications
The financial and emotional toll of this pattern is significant. Sixty‑seven percent of Gen Z respondents indicated they would consider leaving the United States altogether due to stress and the high cost of living—a signal that many young workers feel the current socioeconomic environment is unsustainable. While not all will act on that impulse, the sentiment underscores a growing disconnect between workplace expectations and the realities faced by early‑career employees.
Addressing this challenge requires more than punitive workplace policies. Employers can improve access to affordable mental‑health resources, normalize conversations about stress, and explore flexible scheduling or remote‑work options that reduce burnout. Public health initiatives that lower barriers—focused on expanding insurance coverage for counseling and reducing the stigma around seeking help—could also shift the balance from self‑medication to evidence‑based care.
For readers seeking the original source of the survey data discussed here, see the Vice article that first highlighted these findings: Here.
