Understanding substance abuse is the first step in creating a more supportive workplace environment. A supportive workplace environment is an environment that will promote personal growth and healing in addition to productivity. Today, we’re taking a closer look at how to create that environment, and how to help employees struggling with addiction.

A Substance Abuse Counselor Answers Your Addiction Questions

Working with a substance abuse counselor is an invaluable resource for creating this supportive workplace environment. This is because they can answer any questions as well as foster a deeper understanding of the issues.

With this deeper understanding, you can directly impact and improve overall well-being and productivity. Employees with substance abuse problems may be struggling with impaired concentration, decreased job performance, and increased absenteeism.

This doesn’t just impact their individual performance, but the performance of the whole team. It also can strain relationships, diminish morale, and potentially lead to increased conflicts. So, instead of allowing these problems to remain unaddressed, it benefits everyone involved to develop a deeper understanding of substance abuse and addiction.

What is Substance Abuse?

Substance abuse is using drugs, alcohol, or similar substances in dangerous amounts or through dangerous methods. Not all substance use is abuse, but all substance abuse is linked to negative consequences to the user’s life and health. Exact definitions can vary depending on the public health, medical, or criminal justice context, or a company’s individual policy’s definition.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is the underlying complex chronic brain disorder that leads to substance use, marked by a compulsive activity or behavior that is continued despite negative consequences. Addiction is usually centered around a shift in the brain’s reward and motivation systems.

This will lead to the person pursuing that substance or activity at the expense of all other things. This is more than a physical need, possessing psychological and behavioral elements. This all leads to negative impacts on the individual’s health, relationships, finances, and well-being.

Strategies for Employees Struggling with Substance Abuse Disorder

Substance abuse disorder negatively impacts workplace performance: what can employers do to help? A supportive and understanding workplace environment will encourage individuals to seek help, aid in their recovery, and keep them working. Here are some strategies to help create that environment.

Openness and Empathy

Open communication is the first step to knowing about a problem. There is a social stigma to discussing mental health and addiction that discourages people from seeking help. This can be mitigated with regular discussions as well as educational workshops or awareness-raising training sessions.

Clear, Comprehensive Communication

Your workplace substance abuse policies should be explicit and well-communicated about expectations, disciplinary measures, and available resources for employees. At the risk of stating the obvious, these policies must align with all local anti-discrimination laws and regulations. This will ensure there is a fair, consistent approach that supports employees while discouraging substance abuse.

Be Flexible

We’re all human, and we all need grace and flexibility in difficult times, especially recovering from addiction. Try to make whatever accommodations possible to help support the individual’s recovery. This can include reduced work hours, leaves of absence, or remote work opportunities. With this flexibility, they can better manage treatment schedules or appointments while feeling supported.

Provide Resources

Help the employee get support from mental health resources, and support groups, or refer them to a treatment program for employees and their families. Employee Assistance Programs (or EAPs) can be an invaluable resource to individuals grappling with addiction or other mental health problems.

Train Managers and Supervisors

Management is the front line of communicating workplace policy. If they don’t know or understand the program, they can make the environment less supportive of recovery. Educating them on appropriate responses and training them on how to approach employees with concerns will make a big difference.

Celebrate Milestones

You want your employee in recovery to feel cared for and supported in their recovery journey, especially to avoid relapse. A good way to show that is by celebrating recovery milestones individually or (with their permission) as an office. It will make this employee’s ongoing journey easier knowing they have the company’s support.

Create a More Supportive Workplace Environment with Soteria

Just like how employees shouldn’t face substance abuse alone, workplaces can’t be expected to cultivate a supportive workplace environment alone. Soteria is an invaluable resource in workplace wellness, providing screenings and other resources to help make your workplace environment a more supportive one. Contact Soteria for more information or to schedule a screening today.