A job involving physical labor and extensive working hours can be tough on both the body and the psyche. Mental health issues and substance abuse are extremely common for workers in the construction industry due to its demanding nature. It’s more important now than ever that addiction and co-occurring disorders be brought to attention and given the help they deserve. Why is addiction in the construction agency so common and what actions are or should be taken to help fight this crisis?
Why is Addiction Common Among Construction Workers?
To understand how to battle addiction in the workplace, we must first understand where substance abuse is rooted. Construction is a tough job that requires tremendous amounts of energy exertion — not to mention effects on mental health. Some of the risk factors that can often lead to the exacerbation of addiction in construction workers include:
-High stress levels
-High anxiety
-Long work-days
-Physical demands
-Pain inducing
-High accident rate
-Danger
The immense stress and the life-risking nature of working on a construction site can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Addiction though, is a downward spiral and will only get worse until a worker decides to seek residential addiction treatment. To learn more about what causes addiction and Acqua Recovery’s dual-diagnosis approach to treatment, click HERE.
Substance Abuse Issues in the Workplace
Substance abuse in workers, not only causes issues within their personal lives, but these problems can also be transferred to the workplace. While construction is already a dangerous job, having workers on site that are intoxicated or under the influence raises these risks of unfortunate accidents exponentially. Substance abuse also increases absenteeism in workers causing decreases in productivity, seriously implicating time restraints and payments for jobs.
Even if employees aren’t under the influence while at work, long-term substance abuse can change the brain’s chemistry over time and may cause a worker to be less present or as careful as they should be on the job. An employee dealing with withdrawal symptoms can also affect their work on the job. Shakes, sweats, and spasms from withdrawals can interrupt preciseness and accuracy while working with dangerous tools. For these reasons, having a worker or multiple workers struggling with substance abuse is something that can’t be ignored. Withdrawals are a health risk that if aren’t monitored under professional care, can result in death. For more information on withdrawals and when it’s the right time to seek professional addiction treatment, click HERE.
Fighting the Addiction Crisis in the Construction Industry
Addiction is a disease, and without professional treatment, the battle against it is one you can’t win on your own. Destigmatizing addiction in the workplace and especially in the construction industry will bring attention and consideration to seeking residential addiction treatment. Employers should make their workers’ rights clear to them and encourage taking time off from work to get substance abuse treatment if needed. Coworkers can help decrease the stigma around substance abuse by supporting those struggling and not ignoring signs of addiction in those they care about. Labor unions also help bring attention to the addiction crisis and can refer their members to trusted residential addiction treatment centers.
Acqua Recovery’s treatment program is customized to each individual using a trauma-informed approach. Through dual-diagnosis, we’ll help you, your coworker, or employee take the time they need to heal their past trauma and find recovery to renew their life. Give our caring admissions team — Matt, Brian, or Ashlee — a call today and we’ll help you find your path to a better life.
