1 in 4 Montanans Are Hungover at Work? Really??

Over many years and a jobs, I have seen only a couple coworkers arrive hungover, and very little sympathy comes from me.  A study from the Origins Recovery, using CDC and Mental Health America data, claims the hungover worker is more common than expected.  Montana is second highest in the nation for percentage of adults binge-drinking or heavy drinking.

Binge vs. Heavy Drinking

First an explanation on the distinction which is depending on the time frame.

Binge drinking is consuming five or more drinks by men, or four or more drinks by women, at one occasion or at one sitting, such as a party or at the bar.

Heavy drinking is having 15 or more drinks by men, or eight or more by woman, over a week.  Translated, a man who has two drinks a day and three on Saturday is a heavy drinker.  A woman who enjoys a drink a day and two on Friday is a heavy drinker.

What happened to a little alcohol a day for medicinal purposes?

The Stats on Montana Drinking

According to the Origins Recover, an addiction treatment facility, 23.4% of respondents in the state confirmed weekly binge or heavy drinking.  This is the second-highest percentage per capita.  Only North Dakota is higher at 23.9%.  The next three states on the list of highest are Iowa at 22.6, Wisconsin at 21.6 and Minnesota at 21.2 percent.

For the percentage of state adults who admitted a substance use disorder, Montana is number one with 19.2%, followed by South Dakota at 18.6%.  The press release with the stats did not explain what is a substance use disorder.

Admitting Some Skepticism

Whenever I see stats and poll results, I almost always wonder what the questions were that gathered the raw data.  I question this study on their connection of alcohol consumption to the workplace.  What dots are they trying to connect?  Yes, we drink in Montana and yes sometimes more than we should.  But does one set of data lead to an unrelated conclusion?  I wonder if these questions were asked?

What days of the week do you usually drink heavily?

Do you binge drink the night before work?  If so, how many times a week and how many drinks?

As a woman, do you have a single drink, such as a glass of wine or beer, at home after work, during or after supper?  How many days a week do you do this?

Do you have a drink when dining for lunch?  If so, how many days a week?

Moderation with Alcohol is Highly Recommended

I agree with one message from Origins Recovery: coming to work hungover is a good path towards unemployment.  While a drink with supper is fine, any more the night before is a risk.  Enjoy adulthood, and please be responsible for the morning.

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