Mitigating the Disruption of Addiction in the Workplace
According to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Based on data collected nationally from October to December 2020, it is estimated that 25.9 million past-year users of alcohol and 10.9 million past-year users of drugs other than alcohol reported they were using these substances “a little more or much more” than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic began.” Historically this prevalence of heavy use, or misuse, can often lead to more serious instances of addiction.
These statistics are not only alarming, but it is also hard to believe they have not also spilled over into the professional sphere. Addiction does not only affect the individual, but it also affects everyone in that person's orbit. This includes family, friends, and of course, coworkers and clients. So with this addiction disruption becoming more and more present, it is becoming more and more crucial to address it. If you are struggling with addiction in your workplace, we can help.
The prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) continues to climb in this country (as well as globally of course). The workplace has not been immune to this fact. But how do you get your employee help, while minimizing the disruption for everyone else? Here at Next Level Recovery Associates, we can offer you some solutions.
Approaching Addiction in the Workplace
Ignoring addiction in the workplace can be not only disastrous for the individual struggling, but it can also have serious business consequences. This is why addressing an employee struggling with addiction as soon as possible can be critical.
Now we understand that there can be a lot of anxiety and apprehension when it comes to approaching a staff member you suspect of struggling with SUD. Questions may arise, such as “What if I'm wrong?” “What if they retaliate?” “They are a vital employee, what if I lose their positive output?” and “What will this do to the rest of my staff?”
These are all reasonable and responsible questions, but we ask you to reframe them and see how this new perspective can help. Ask yourself, “What if I'm right, and I do nothing?” “What if they hurt themself, or others, or worse?” “If they are struggling, imagine how much more productive they would be if they weren't?” and “What will it say to my staff if I do nothing?” The good news is that we have quality answers to all of these questions.
Getting Help While Minimizing Disruptions
One of the primary concerns that you may have around getting involved in an employee's personal life is how it might affect the rest of the workplace dynamic. While it is true there will be changes to the workplace, these changes will be for the better, and they can occur with minimal disruption.
Utilizing an Intervention for an Employee Struggling With Addiction
One of the options we offer here at Next Level Recovery Associates is start-to-finish intervention services. This can be an excellent option for helping employees because it integrates the rest of their life into their recovery. Additionally, it ensures that you do not have to face this difficult task alone.
It is a safe bet that if addiction is disrupting an employee's life at work, it is also negatively affecting their life at home. Active addiction can act like a social, familial, and professional storm, destroying everything in its path.
Our goal with an intervention is to calm that storm and begin to understand some of the wreckage that this toxic lifestyle has wrought. From the initial process of understanding the problem to executing the literal intervention to getting the post-intervention treatment needed, we have the specialized professionals to best ensure success.
Making the Hard Choices Around Relapse
Here is the sad reality of recovery; it is never guaranteed. While we wish we could offer this guarantee, it would simply be dishonest. In fact, we implore you to take any treatment center or professional that offers a recovery guarantee with great skepticism.
However, while recovery is not guaranteed, we have the tools that are highly effective in minimizing instances of relapse. Our “recovery associates” can help your employee maintain their desired road of recovery and stay on track in both their personal and professional life. Yes, relapse is a potential reality, but it can be mitigated. Yet, if it is something that becomes habitual, we can also help you move forward with difficult decisions. You do not have to go through this alone.
We know that for most employers, their primary concern is not an employee's productivity or output. If you are reaching out to us, instead of taking more drastic measures like termination, your primary purpose is getting your employee well, and our primary purpose is helping you accomplish it.
Addiction can cause immeasurable damage within the workplace. Not only does it disrupt the individual that is struggling with alcohol and/or substance use disorder, but it disrupts their employer, their coworkers, and the company's clients and livelihood. If addiction is affecting your workplace, Next Level Recovery Associates can help. We understand the complicated dynamics that can be created by addiction in the workplace. But, we can help you get through this, while most importantly getting your employee or coworker the help they need. Whether it's case management, intervention assistance, recovery coaching, and/or recovery companionship, we have an elite staff that can help. Your workplace can be healed. Please call Next Level Recovery Associates today at (561) 735-2590 for more information.