It’s not because they don’t want help, but because professional addiction treatment and mental health care remain out of reach for many. A new national survey is putting numbers to a crisis that treatment providers have been watching develop for years.
What the Survey Found
A survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Drug Rehab USA found that 35 percent of Gen Z respondents use substances such as cannabis, alcohol or prescription medications before starting their workday.
Another 56 percent report using after work to unwind from job-related stress. Nearly a third use during breaks, with many retreating to cars or bathrooms to do so.
Perhaps most striking: only 21 percent of Gen Z respondents said they are always substance-free at work. The data was reported by VICE and the New York Post, drawing on the Drug Rehab USA Substance Use in Daily Life Study published in April 2026.
This Is Not Only a Gen Z Problem
Before this becomes a generational talking point, the data shows Millennials are nearly keeping pace.
Thirty-seven percent of Millennials reported using substances before work, slightly higher than the 35 percent of Gen Z. And 62 percent of Millennials use alcohol to manage stress, compared to 61 percent of Gen Z.
Across all generations surveyed, alcohol was the most commonly reported substance at 57 percent, followed by cannabis at 54 percent and nicotine at 48 percent.
A notable share also reported using prescription anxiety or sleep medications (26 percent), stimulants (9 percent), opioids or painkillers (9 percent) and illicit drugs (7 percent).
Financial Stress Is Driving the Behavior
The survey found that 84 percent of respondents said financial stress influences their substance use. Rising grocery and living costs were cited by 61 percent, utilities by 43 percent, and housing or rent by 41 percent.
Andrew McKenna, deputy director of the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence/Westchester, Inc., told the New York Post that what the survey reflects is a shift from genuine stress management to simple survival.
The coping has changed, he noted, from actually working through stress to just getting through the day.
Over a third of respondents spend $50 or more on substances weekly, and 15 percent spend more than $100. For a generation already stretched thin financially, self-medication is quietly becoming a significant household expense.
Why Addiction Treatment Remains Out of Reach
The survey’s most treatment-relevant finding may be this: 79 percent of respondents said substances feel more accessible, affordable, or effective than therapy.
Among those, 37 percent cited the cost of mental healthcare and 25 percent pointed to inadequate insurance coverage for mental health treatment.
When professional support is delayed by waitlists, cost, or coverage gaps, the window for early intervention closes.
That matters because substance use that begins as a coping mechanism can develop into a pattern that requires more intensive care, including inpatient rehab or medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine or naltrexone.
What This Means for Treatment Seekers
If you or someone you know is managing stress primarily through alcohol, cannabis, or other substances, that pattern may signal a need for professional support rather than a continued search for better coping strategies.
Addiction treatment options today range from outpatient counseling and telehealth therapy to residential rehab programs and MAT, many of which are covered in whole or in part by private insurance and Medicaid.
Cost and access barriers are real, but they are not universal. Verifying your insurance coverage before reaching out to rehab centers is a practical first step.
Finding the Right Rehab
If this data describes someone in your life, or yourself, the next step does not have to be a major decision. It can start with understanding what treatment options are actually available and covered under your current plan.
Rehab.com’s directory includes thousands of verified rehab centers across the country, including facilities offering outpatient services, sliding-scale fees and telehealth options for people who cannot take time away from work.
Call
800-985-8516
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