Employees who work in hospitality and recreation industries report higher instances of abuse and drugs as well as construction workers. As a professional, it is more likely you will struggle with addiction than other people for myriad reasons. Substance abuse contributes to loss of productivity, injuries, accidents, and increased rates of illness. The economic losses can go into the billions of dollars.
Substance Abuse
Studies indicate men are more likely to abuse drugs than women and professional males are even more likely. Other factors which influence the prevalence of drug use among workers include wages and geographic location. Prescription drug use is on the rise including illicit drugs and heavy drinking (five or more per day during five separate occasions in a month). Healthcare professionals including doctors and nurses have a higher likelihood also of misusing prescription drugs.
Abuse in Caring Professions
Most doctors do not abuse drugs because of the access, it is mainly due to management of physical pain, emotional distress or stressful life situations. Different doctors are more likely to abuse drugs than others including:
- Psychiatrists
- Emergency room doctors
- Anesthesiologists
- Surgeons
Legal Profession
Attorneys and lawyers face enormous stress, large debt and a shrinking market for entry-level jobs coming out of college. Alcoholism and drug use are rampant among attorneys and lawyers, usually starting in law school. Many will start some years into their practice due to job related causes. Lawyers in law firms abuse alcohol at the highest rate with rates of depression and anxiety ranking high.
Seeking Help
If you are a professional, there are many things you can do to help yourself through challenging issues of work-life balance. There are treatment centers and programs which focus on helping executives and professionals seek help for addiction and drug abuse. Seeking support from family, friends, and loved ones is a great way to bolster a goal of seeking treatment for addiction before it takes over your life and wreaks havoc on your career.
Oceanfront provides an executive treatment program designed to help you with your needs as a professional, c-suite executive. Our recovery programs focus on your individual needs with flexibility to continue meeting your needs at work while also meeting your recovery goals. Call us to find out how we can help you get started: 888-98`-4295
