More and more, companies are recognizing the risks of addiction in the workplace. They require drug testing of employees, including professionals like doctors, to ensure they have a sober workforce. Professionals addiction treatment is becoming more common, too. What are the risks of addiction in the workplace, and what are professional programs?
Facts About Addiction in the Workplace
Addiction in the workplace costs businesses and organizations billions of dollars a year. Some common issues seen include:
- Poor productivity
- High turnover rates
- Theft at work
- Absenteeism
- Poor work quality
- Increased job site injuries
Substance abuse in the workplace affects everyone, not just the person with the addiction. Culture plays an important role in any workplace, and drinking or drug use has a negative impact.
Things On a Job That Can Contribute to Addiction
Some jobs actually make drug or alcohol abuse more likely. Healthcare is a good example. Professionals working in healthcare, like physicians or nurses, are under a lot of stress. They tend to work long hours and don’t always get breaks. They also have access to prescription medications like opioids that are highly addictive.
Some jobs are boring and isolating, leading to an increase in drinking or drug use. Professionals may lack proper supervision, which makes bringing alcohol or drugs to the workplace easier.
Taking steps to prevent addiction in the workplace, like drug testing and awareness campaigns, can be beneficial. Simply adopting a substance abuse policy can be enough to reduce incidents.
What Is a Professional Treatment Program?
A professional treatment program works with healthcare professionals and people in other industries with high levels of responsibility. It is also for professionals mandated to a treatment program in order to maintain their license. That could include doctors, lawyers, pilots, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and vets.
The programs address some unusual needs of professionals in recovery, like stigma and accountability as they return to their jobs.
Addiction Does Not Discriminate
CeDAR is a comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program that offers a separate treatment plan for professionals. Those who enter this program can expect things like return-to-work planning as part of their treatment. Treatment begins in our Aurora CO detox followed by residential treatment for substance use disorder.
All the clinical staff at CeDAR that takes part in the professional program have a master’s degree or doctorate. They can create an individualized plan based on the needs of the individual entering the professional program.
Our professional program involves a full continuum of care that includes services such as:
- Medical detox — This is where most of our professional patients start their treatment with us. We provide them with medication, comfort care, and therapy while they go through withdrawal.
- Intensive residential treatment — Our residential treatment program includes gender-specific living arrangements and full privacy.
- Residential extended care — This ensures they have a sober living environment as they transition back into the mainstream.
- Partial hospitalization — PHP allows them to get treatment during the day and stay with family at night.
- Intensive outpatient therapy — Includes a 12-week curriculum and day or evening appointments, which is essential for the professional who returns to work while in outpatient treatment.
CeDAR also provides aftercare, so we continue to support the professionals even after their treatment ends. We believe that professionals, especially those referred to us by oversight groups, benefit most from multidisciplinary and multiple system care plans.
Professionals face some challenges when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction and recovery. Our addiction treatment for professionals program could be the answer for someone in your life. Give us a call at 720.848.3000 or go online and fill out our contact form to find out more about the CeDAR professional program.