Addiction impacts every aspect of your life, including your job and career prospects. It changes the way you think and act, and if you don’t receive the necessary help, it can cause your quality of life in the workplace to nosedive. Right now you might be thinking, “But if I try to get treatment, I’ll lose my job!” However, the truth is that you’re far more likely to keep your job if you seek help than if you don’t.
How Does Opioid Addiction Impact Your Career?
If you’re struggling with opioid use, it can hurt your job performance, your productivity and the relationship you have with your boss and coworkers. Even if you think you have everything under control, you might find yourself having withdrawal symptoms at work and becoming irritable with other employees. You may start struggling to concentrate, which will cause your work efficiency to drop.
Addiction can cause you to act in ways you wouldn’t normally, and before you know it, you could be out of a job. But if you decide to get help now, you may be able to save your career.
Improving Your Professional Life During Recovery
Receiving the proper treatment for opioid addiction can help you get your life back on track, and one of the most important areas in life to preserve or restore is your career. Once you’ve decided to seek treatment, this is how it is usually the best to handle the situation at your job:
- Be honest: Honesty can go a long way in any type of situation. Clearly communicate your intentions of getting treatment to your superiors — in most cases, they will support you and respect your willingness to seek help. The more they understand your challenges, the more they can do to help you along the way.
- Discuss options for your absence: Part of your addiction treatment plan may include a period of inpatient treatment. In this case, you might end up having to take some time off work. Chances are that you won’t lose your job for receiving treatment thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but you should still make sure you work out how and by whom your duties will be performed while you’re gone.
Career Changes After Treatment
In the long-run, treating your opioid crisis can change your work life for the better. Whether you stay at a current job or you end up finding something completely new, beating opioid addiction can reduce your stress in the workplace, improve your relationships and allow you to focus entirely on getting the job done.
Your productivity at work can take a dip while you’re suffering from cravings and withdrawal, but it can soar when your mind and body are free of dependence. After you’ve made a full journey of recovery, you can return to building a meaningful career.
Getting addiction treatment isn’t just about saving a job — it’s about taking back control of your life. Call us or fill out the form on our website to learn more about our individualized treatment plans!