When the battle for substance use addiction has ended in a recovering addict’s life, the next step is to find employment. Recovering addicts struggle to find work that accommodates their needs for safe and healthy work environments, but also work that allows them a second chance in life.
Workplaces are providing safe supportive environments for recovering addicts to adopt healthy changes such as the workplace-supported recovery program, which uses evidence placed policies to reduce multiple risk factors.
Most companies are starting to change their outlook on individuals who have suffered from substance use disorder. Most research shows that “Not only does working help people overcome substance abuse and stay sober, but It also provides income and health benefits. But it also can instill meaning and purpose in their lives, which are powerful incentives to stay off drugs” (Bernstein, L. 2018, December 17).
The average work environment is rebranding itself as “recovery friendly” to show people that they have incentives of helping others and letting them have another shot at an opportunity. Treating substance abuse like a medical recovery such as maternity leave helps recovering employees alleviate the stigma surrounding their struggles.
We don’t know if workers that have had a previous substance abuse disorder are better workers than ones without it but what we can conclude is that helping others bring allegiance to a company on the issue. While being supportive and hoping for the best for everyone to stay clean may not always be the case, showing effort to an issue that has become so relevant today is a risk worth taking said Seatle Times.
“Is it finding work through recovery, or finding recovery through work?” he asked. “I don’t think recovery would have been so successful if I hadn’t been working.”
Bernstein, L. (2018, December 17)