Support For Coworkers

Being alone is the worst possible scenario for those suffering with an addiction. If one of your co-workers has a drug or alcohol problem, we are truly here to help.

Substance abuse within a workplace is now highly common; especially in high pressured industries and roles. Although this is very unfortunate to hear, more and more individuals are suffering alone through addiction; It is highly likely that one of your co-workers are dealing with some form of habitual behaviour currently.

For some, drug and alcohol consumption may be used to block out work-related stresses, while for others, substance misuse may be down to peer pressure, mental health issues or underlying vulnerabilities. However, no matter the trigger, without professional treatment and addiction support, a substance use disorder can cause severe problems.

From physical and psychological illnesses, to problems at work, negative effects are likely. If you believe that a co-worker may be struggling with drug and alcohol consumption, where the signs of addiction are present, it’s time to reach out.

How To Approach A Co-Worker From An Addiction

If you do believe that a co-worker requires addiction support, the first step is to ensure that an addiction is present. There are common signs and symptoms of a drug and alcohol addiction, therefore, it is important that you’re aware of them; approaching a co-worker and suggesting that an addiction may be present without certainty can lead to further problems. Common symptoms and signs of addiction include declining job performance, irritability, more absences, reduced motivation and concentration, and physical side effects.

Once you’re sure that a problem with drugs or alcohol is present, it’s time to offer your support. This can be through providing a helping hand, offering guidance or even taking the step through professional intervention. If you are concerned that an addiction has developed significantly, reaching out to your human resources department will be recommended to find out your workplaces policy and employee assistance approach when considering substance misuse.

When approaching your co-worker, it is important that you are supportive, compassionate, non-judgemental and caring. For most individuals, an underlying psychological issue causes addictive behaviours, therefore, it’s important that you approach this topic sensitively.

Helping A Co-Worker Through Rehabilitation

Once you’ve reached a point where intervention could be probable, reaching out for professional support will be recommended. Here at Action Rehab, we can help you and your co-worker with addiction support, ensuring you are prepared to guide, while recommending the most suitable rehab route.

From here, an array of addiction treatments can be completed to alleviate drug and alcohol consumption levels, helping your co-worker return to work recovered. This is an effective route to consider and the most suitable route to take when considering co-worker addiction support.

Make sure this process is done confidentially, ensuring that your relationship with your co-worker isn’t damaged. This is a touchy subject; therefore, it is important to keep this in mind when considering addiction support. Support will be required in many different formats and may span over a long period of time. Yet the most important thing you can do is to be there for your co-worker through addiction support and treatment.

Reach out for our rehabilitation recommendations, helping your co-worker through their addiction. If you require further information on intervention and our approach to co-worker addiction support, contact our Action Rehab team.