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My husband says that he is an addict. How can this be possible when he still has a good job?
A: Understanding how a person can be dependent on alcohol or drugs and still keep a good job is difficult. The media often portray people with substance use disorders as unemployed, unproductive, criminal, and homeless. However, many people who are dependent on alcohol or drugs do not fit this stereotype; they have jobs and live with their families. The disease does tend to worsen over time. Eventually, your husband’s drug use may increase, and, with no help, he may begin to experience more serious problems. The earlier your husband can get treatment, the better chance he has of recovery
What are these “sober life skills” my partner talks about?
A: Sober life skills are the new behaviours and ways of living that your partner will need to work on. Before treatment, your partner spent a great deal of time obtaining a substance, using drugs or drinking alcohol, and getting over the substance’s effects. Most of his or her activities centered on drugs or alcohol. Most of his or her fun activities included drinking alcohol or using drugs, and many of your partner’s friends used or abused substances, too. For these reasons, people recovering from substance use disorders need to learn a whole new way to live and to make new friends.
My father is the one who drinks too much alcohol. Why do the counsellors want to talk to me?
A: Treatment professionals know that substance use disorders affect the whole family. It makes sense, then, to offer help to the whole family. Some programs offer family education, and others involve the family or couples in counselling sessions. It’s hard to grow up with a parent who uses alcohol or drugs. It can be helpful if you learn more about the disease and the effect it has had on your family and on you. Talking to someone who understands substance use disorders can make a big difference for you
Employers, managers and HR departments are faced with the challenge of effectively assisting their employees well being. Substance and alcohol abuse in the workplace can be a scary and frustrating issue for employers, managers and HR departments. With employee productivity and health and safety a priority, anyone in a supervisory position will become easily frustrated with the increased absenteeism, lower levels of productivity and potential for dangerous and hazardous working environments that come with substance and alcohol abuse problems in the work place.
Many people with substance abuse disorders are usually very talented and productive employees when sober and focused. A large proportion of employees with high levels of potential in the work place are dismissed as “irresponsible” or “hopeless” by their colleagues and supervisors because of their struggles with substance and alcohol abuse. As a result, these high potential individuals never receive the help and treatment that they need to get their lives on track.
Contact one of our specialist addiction counsellors today for more information on how to get an employee back to being a productive member of your company.
Treatment is just the first step to recovery. During this process family members sometimes have mixed feelings. You may feel exhausted, angry, relieved, worried, and afraid that, if this doesn’t work, nothing will. You may feel as if you are walking on eggshells and that, if you do something wrong, you may cause your loved one to relapse. It is important for you to remember that you cannot cause a relapse—only the person who takes a drug or picks up a drink is responsible for that.
No one can predict whether your family member will recover, or for how long, but many people who receive treatment do get better. The longer people stay in treatment the more likely they will remain drug and alcohol free. About half the people who complete treatment for the first time continue to recover. Of course, this means that about half will return to drinking alcohol and using drugs (called relapse) before they finally give them up for good. Adolescents are even more likely to use drugs or alcohol or both again. It is not uncommon for a person to need to go through treatment more than one time. Often the person needs to return to treatment quickly to prevent a slip or relapse from leading to a chronic problem.
Treatment is just the first step to recovery. During this process family members sometimes have mixed feelings. You may feel exhausted, angry, relieved, worried, and afraid that, if this doesn’t work, nothing will. You may feel as if you are walking on eggshells and that, if you do something wrong, you may cause your loved one to relapse. It is important for you to remember that you cannot cause a relapse—only the person who takes a drug or picks up a drink is responsible for that.
No one can predict whether your family member will recover, or for how long, but many people who receive treatment do get better. The longer people stay in treatment the more likely they will remain drug and alcohol free. About half the people who complete treatment for the first time continue to recover. Of course, this means that about half will return to drinking alcohol and using drugs (called relapse) before they finally give them up for good. Adolescents are even more likely to use drugs or alcohol or both again. It is not uncommon for a person to need to go through treatment more than one time. Often the person needs to return to treatment quickly to prevent a slip or relapse from leading to a chronic problem.
