3 tactics to break the stigma of substance use conditions at work.
By Suzette Glasner
Substance use conditions can be detrimental to a person’s personal and professional life. Because of the stigma associated with substance use, struggling people aren’t given many opportunities to succeed—especially in the workplace.
Employees’ fears of being judged and stigmatized about psychological problems are palpable; according to our recent study, only 7% of the U.S. workforce feels that they can ask their employer for help related to substance use. Employees report feeling least comfortable talking with their company’s HR and senior leaders about their psychological health troubles.
According to Pelago’s recent research on the state of substance use management in the workplace, 2 in 3 workers believe support for substance and alcohol problems is important. Still, only 1 in 6 employers offer support or treatment for these problems. This means less than 20% of all employers offer real support to their employees.
The state of substance abuse in the workplace
Although substance misuse and addiction are much better understood from a neurobiological perspective now compared to 30 years ago, dealing with addiction remains largely unchanged in today’s workplace.
Substance use can happen in any industry, and most employees guard the truth about their struggles due to fears of stigma and negative repercussions from their employer. While employees feel that support for problematic alcohol and drug use is important, access to support and treatment to address substance use through employee benefits is limited. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 56% of companies offer employee assistance programs, and it is fair to say that not all of them cover substance use disorders. That leaves quite a few companies with no policies in place.