Recognizing Signs of Employee Drug Use

In the business world, the employee base is usually a company’s most important asset. When even a single employee is struggling with addiction, it can have a profound effect on how the organization functions. It should go without saying that nonfunctional assets will eventually cost a company money and time. For that reason alone, you should have the ability to recognize the signs of employee drug use within the organization. Your concern should revolve around caring for the employee while also protecting the reputation and efficiency of the company.

The Signs of Employee Drug Use

Rest assured, an employee will go out of their way to hide their alcohol or drug use. Fortunately, the signs of employee drug use will eventually rise to the surface. It’s simply the nature of drug addiction that ultimately leads people to certain adverse behaviors. While there are a lot of ways addiction manifests such behavior, here are a few signs you can expect to see pretty regularly:

• Change in work attendance and performance
• A drastic change in outward appearance such as grooming issues
• Irresponsible behavior like missing deadlines and being abrupt or caustic with co-workers
• Drastic mood swings like hyperactivity or severe depression
• Defensiveness at the suggestion something is amiss like an insinuation of drug use

Addressing Addiction Issues With Employees

At all times, you have to remember you are dealing with an employee who has an illness. They certainly made a choice to start using drugs, but once addiction took over, the signs of employee drug use are evident, and they became helpless.

Of course, your first obligation as an employer is to protect the company’s reputation and assets. Just the same, you also have a moral obligation to show compassion for the troubled employee. With this in mind, there are several things you can do to address the issue at hand:

• Contact close relatives and confirm whether or not they are aware of any issues
• Offer a recommendation for getting help–addiction treatment programs in Florida is a great place to start
• Offer time off to pursue treatment
• Provide privacy when addressing the issue
• Consult the company’s healthcare insurance carrier about covering treatment costs

Beaches Recovery–The Right Addiction Treatment Destination

There are very few rehabs in the world that offer elite services like Beaches Recovery of Jacksonville, Florida. By employing modern addiction treatment modalities, we are able to customize treatment programs that address each patient’s specific needs. A short list of our services includes:

• Separate treatment options for men and women
• Inpatient, outpatient and intensive outpatient programs
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Family counseling services
• Aftercare programs

If you see signs of employee drug use and want information about treatment resources, we encourage you to call Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532. The time you invest trying to help an employee could return dividends you weren’t expecting.