Which of the following is a commonly cited societal impact of drug abuse related to work?

• A. Increased productivity
• B. Lost work productivity
• C. No impact
• D. Decreased healthcare costs

Answer: (B)

When substances are misused, the most commonly cited societal impact related to work is a loss of productivity. People who misuse drugs tend to miss more work or be late, and even when they are at work, concentration, decision-making, and safety can suffer. This leads to lower output, more errors, and poorer quality of work, which over time translates into higher costs for employers and society—things like higher turnover, more training needs, and more workplace accidents. The other choices don’t fit as well: increased productivity would be the opposite of what is observed; claiming no impact ignores the clear effects on performance and attendance; and decreased healthcare costs contradicts the reality that treatment and related healthcare expenses often rise with substance misuse.