Depending on the substance that an individual is addicted to, as well as the length of time that this addiction has been ongoing impacts how the addiction affects the individual, both in terms of their physical health, but also their mental health.
Any individual can develop an addiction and there are no known factors that can stop an individual developing an addiction if they engage in substance abuse.
Everyone experiences the effects of addiction differently, meaning that there are no ‘one size fits all’ approaches to care and every individual case must be treated completely uniquely.
This article will cover how addiction can affect an individual at work, and how this may impact other areas of their life. However, it is first important to understand how addiction can impact and affect the individual in their daily life.
Physical Health Effects of Addiction
Most studies on the topic cite that addiction affects individuals physically in terms of how it impacts their life expectancy, potential years living with an addiction-caused disability, and general mortality (1).
However, it is important to note that physical health impacts will vary depending on the specific substance(s) that the individual is addicted to, as this will cause great variation in the way that the body is affected.
For example, alcohol is known to impact the liver and the cardiovascular system, whereas substances such as cannabis may affect areas such as the lungs.
Any substance consumed regularly or in high quantities can cause lifelong issues and health problems, which is why it is essential that individuals who feel as though they may be struggling with addiction contact support as soon as possible to reduce the future impact of these effects.
Mental Health Effects of Addiction
Although addiction is considered a mental health issue in on itself, this is not to say that it cannot cause additional mental health issues, as well as the worsening of mental health issues that may have already been present within an individual.
Addiction is known to co-occur with many mental health issues, most commonly: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, but it is important to remember that this is not an extensive list and not every individual struggling with addiction will struggle with these mental health impacts.
Some studies suggest that mental health issues in addicts can be worsened by factors such as age and gender (2), but this is still ongoing research and requires further investigation.
How Can You Start Spotting Addiction in the Workplace Effectively?
As addiction affects every individual differently, detecting an addiction in another individual can be incredibly difficult, and it is always a topic to be approached sensitively, respectfully, and cautiously.
Within the workplace, an addiction can cause a number of different issues, especially relating to the individual’s experience of work and their ability to carry out the tasks that are expected of them.
Below follow some of the features that an individual can look for when attempting to detect an addiction in someone that they work with but should always be done responsibly and respectfully.
1. Relationships with Colleagues
When an individual is struggling with addiction, they may become more difficult to communicate with due to the experiences that the individual is having to deal with.
This may lead to difficulties in communicating with them, as well as their difficulties in communicating with those around them. For example, if the individual usually gets on well with another colleague, then changes in this relationship may be a cause for concern.
In addition, behaviours such as increased irritability may impact the individual’s relationships with those around them, something which is out of their control but often perceived as being rude or disrespectful rather than thinking of the further implications.
2. Secretive/concealed Behaviours
Another key to determining whether or not someone may be struggling with addiction is to pay attention to the things that they are not doing.
For example, individuals struggling with addiction may often become increasingly secretive or concealing of their behaviours, perhaps leading to unexplained time away from their place of work or becoming distressed or irritable when asked about specific subjects or topics of discussion.
Though determining whether or not an individual is being secretive or concealing their behaviours, this is one of the most common features presented by individuals struggling with addiction due to the shame and embarrassment that these individuals may feel as a result of their addiction.
3. Work Performance
In general, all of the above features, as well as many others may begin to affect the individual’s performance at work.
Though someone beginning to fall behind at work is not always a sign that they are struggling with addiction, it is definitely an opportunity for others to speak to the individual and find out if there are any other factors that may be influencing their behaviour and therefore performance at work.
How Can an Individual Be Supported With Their Addiction at Work?
If an individual at work does suggest that they are struggling with an addiction, there are many next steps that they and those around them can take in order to assist them into getting back on track. Some ideas are listed and described across the following few subheadings.
1. Interventions
An intervention is one of the best ways to approach an individual to speak to them about their substance abuse. This typically comes before rehab, or a home alcohol detox.
This is because this method requires an external mediator, often a medical professional, in order to mediate the conversation and offer meaningful and helpful suggestions for the individual struggling with addiction and those around them who may be affected.
During an addiction, all individuals will have the opportunity to speak about how the addiction of their colleague has affected them, without blame, judgement, or holding back.
This should always be conducted in a respectful manner and only on the condition that all parties agree to it; no individual should be forced to participate in something unwanted.
2. Internal support
Some companies or places of work offer in-house support for their employees, including occupational therapists and other forms of counsellor, for example.
This may be a great first step for an individual struggling with addiction in the workplace as these conversations remain confidential unless any staff member has a threat to their life or general wellbeing.
3. External sources of support
In some more extreme cases, it may be suitable for individuals to seek some form of external sources of support.
This refers to drug rehabilitation, for example, including both inpatient and outpatient care (i.e., whether an individual undergoes rehabilitation full-time and in a dedicated centre or part-time and continues residing in their regular residence).
Any external sources of rehabilitation should be discussed with a medical professional, first, before any final decisions are made.
Helping a Colleague or Loved One Find Further Support Through Rehabilitation
In a case of emergency, it is always recommended that individuals contact the relevant local emergency services to get the help that they need.
No addiction is too serious or too trivial to be helped by professional services, so getting help is never as hard as is often thought. In addition, most addiction support services operate a fully confidential and non-judgemental policy meaning that these individuals will be in the best possible hands for their situation.
Contact your local services or relevant local referral services today for further information.
