SURVEY: Gen Z Employees Resort to Substances to Handle Workplace Stress

A recent survey involving 1,000 adults in the United States revealed that 35% of Generation Z workers consume cannabis, alcohol, or prescription drugs before beginning their workday, while 56% use these substances after work hours to cope with job-related stress.

Almost one out of three participants admitted to using substances during breaks at work, and 9% confessed to covertly using substances during meetings or virtual calls. Only 20% of Gen Z respondents reported abstaining entirely from using substances connected to their work routine.

Millennials displayed comparable behaviors, with 37% consuming substances prior to starting work and 62% relying on alcohol to manage stress.

Alcohol was identified as the most frequently used substance across all age groups at 57%, followed by cannabis at 54%, and nicotine at 48%.

Over one-third of those surveyed spend $50 or more weekly on substances, with 15% allocating more than $100 per week.

Experts highlight that Generation Z is burdened by the pressures of constant digital connectivity and faces restricted access to mental health support due to financial limitations.