Supporting a Co-Worker Who Is Struggling with Alcohol Dependency

Many people in Santa Barbara and across the nation struggle with alcohol dependency. Additionally, many of these people are employed. 

Entrepreneur.com says, based on a “2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 18.9 million adults classified with dependence or abuse, nearly 52 percent were employed.” For the millions of people struggling with addiction the support of co-workers is a crucial part for admission into rehab centers.  

Signs of Alcohol Dependency and Addiction

The most common signs of an alcohol dependency are frequent hangovers, blood shot eyes, lingering alcohol smells on his or her clothes and breath, frequent absences, increased negativity, emotional outbursts and reduced productivity says, Alcoholrehab.com. Despite the knowledge of and presence of these warning signs many employers and co-workers choose to ignore them in their own workplace settings. 

The worst thing employers and co-workers in Santa Barbara can do is ignore these issues. For an employee to make the decision to seek help in alcohol rehab centers he or she may need to be confronted. 

Confronting the Issue and Offering Support

When confronting a co-worker about his or her behavior you should do so in a group setting during which only facts are presented, says Alcoholrehab.com. A group or team intervention is a good idea for avoiding one-on-one confrontation especially if the individual’s behavior is affecting the entire team.

Additionally, when the team or group decides to confront the person struggling with dependency, have a list of resources available that include support groups, alcohol rehab centers in Santa Barbara and any pertinent company-provided insurance information, says Entrepreneur.com. In some cases it may be beneficial to have an intervention specialist or company attorney present as well. 

Recovery is possible for working adults with a support group of friends, family and co-workers. When an employee’s dependency or abuse begins to affect your workplace environment and productivity, it’s time to speak up. 

Nicole Donaldson is a health writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers. Follow on Twitter.