Studies: DRUGS, not automation or outsourcing, is killing American manufacturing

Up to half of all applicants fail drug tests.

America has a drug problem unlike any in the world, and it is the reason why millions of working age adults can't get good jobs. This is the conclusion of several independent studies which examined the question of why Americans aren't working and earning decent incomes.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- There are several reasons why American workers are struggling, but one of the most shocking is that they are high on drugs. Between a quarter to a half of all drug applicants fail their drug tests according to various surveys. One manufacturing executive said that drugs, not anything else, was the biggest threat to the manufacturing industry.

Several studies from a variety of sources, including private and government research as well as census data, show the same, striking problem.

The problem mostly affects working age adults without college diplomas. These people make up the backbone of America's manufacturing industry. Manufacturing often provides good jobs with benefits, to workers who do not have college degrees.

Over the past few decades, manufacturing jobs have gone overseas creating the 'rust belt.' The rest belt refers to cities with shuttered factories that sit rusting. Having lost their jobs, many of the unemployed have become disaffected and turned to drugs to ease their pain.

It doesn't help that drugs are easier than ever to get. Drugs are widely advertised on television, and doctors can't say no when a patient self-reports their pain levels to be high. We are constantly bombarded with media messages about how pain is bad and something to be feared and shunned.

This overwhelming fear of pain has made Americans craven. Rather than embracing pain as part of life, we either flee from situations that could cause pain, or failing that, we medicate ourselves until we are numb.

About six percent of all Americans now claim they cannot work because of illness or disability. Millions more are either living on disability, or struggling to get it, despite the fact they are otherwise able to work.

For the record, most people on disability are suffering from genuine disabilities, but not all.

Now that wages are rising in the developing world, manufacturing jobs are returning to the United States. This should lead to a boom for American workers, a renaissance for the working class, but so far this hasn't happened because large numbers of potential workers are doing drugs.

Opioids, heroin, and fentanyl are all in widespread use, disqualifying up to half of all candidates from jobs in the manufacturing sector. The same problem exists in other sectors, but is less widespread.

We expect our workers to struggle because our economic system incentivizes low wages, the steady erosion of benefits, and the transfer of wealth from the working class to the elites. These are known problems that require strong solutions. However, the choice to do drugs is a personal choice. Our workers are not advancing the cause of labor by stupefying themselves with drugs. There are jobs to be had, and changes to be made, but only if we can break our addition to painkillers, and replace it with traditional pride in millions of jobs well done.