Abstract
Aims: To describe the prevalence of alcohol, drug, and gambling problems among building and related workers in the ACT.
Methods: Workers at 9 major construction and maintenance sites in the ACT received self-administered questionnaires, which they completed on site and returned to researchers.
Findings: Workers returned 254 usable questionnaires. Response rates varied by location but were between 70 and 80% on larger sites. They reported high levels of tobacco, cannabis and amphetamine use and 19% reported self-diagnosed alcohol problems, 11.5% gambling problems and 18% problems in their family life.
Conclusions: This study found high levels of alcohol, and other drug use among building and related workers and high levels of self-diagnosed problems associated with this use and with gambling. While an existing union-led program aims to reduce harm on the worksite, the levels of self-reported family and gambling problems found in this study suggest that more needs to be done for workers and their families off worksites.
Notes
Notes
[1] Use of alcohol and other drugs were included as separate questions in the questionnaire. Inferentially, the response to this question also excludes problems related to tobacco use.