Executives: Should You Tell Your Employees about Your Addiction?

executives and addiction

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and contrary to what many people believe about addiction, roughly seventy-six percent of individuals who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction problems are employed. It’s safe to assume that some of these individuals are executives—high functioning drug addicts who may be concerned about what will happen should their employees learn about their drug problems.

Executives Struggling With Addiction

What is a functioning addict? A functioning addict, or more appropriately a high functioning addict, is an individual who appears to be highly successful in their life and career and yet is dependent upon and addicted to drug substances. Such an individual may be concerned about the social stigma connected with addiction and rehab, as well as whether they will be able to retain their career, should they enroll in rehabilitation treatment. Unfortunately, failing to get treatment means that the individual will continue to struggle with the drug substances that can quite easily strip away their ability to function at all, let alone well. Furthermore, the signs of addiction can become more obvious over time, which means that concerns about hiding one’s drug use from others becomes a moot point. But does this mean that executives should tell their employees about their addiction?

The first thing one should consider is their company’s drug and alcohol policy. In the absence of such a policy, one should consider their company’s health care policy. Many of these policies protect the rights and the privacy of an individual who is seeking rehabilitation treatment for drug addiction problems. Additionally, the Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees up to twelve weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for specific medical reasons—rehabilitation treatment being one such reason. Understanding your company’s policies as regards receiving rehabilitation treatment can help to put one at ease about maintaining their career while recovering from addiction so that they can focus on getting the help they need.

The social stigma connected with addiction can prevent many individuals, not the least of which are business executives, from taking an honest look at their drug problems and getting the help they need to resolve them. However, considering the fact that drugs can easily destroy an individual’s health, relationships, and life and even high-functioning addicts have the potential to fall into complete and utter ruin should their drug habits continue unchecked, it is never wise to base one’s decision about whether or not to enroll in rehabilitation treatment on one’s concern over their career. This does not automatically mean that an executive should tell their employees about their addiction, as that is a far more personal decision.

Executive Rehab

The decision about whether or not an executive should tell their employees about their addiction comes down to how comfortable they are with doing so, and whether it will help or harm anyone to do so. If the executive feels comfortable speaking out about the truth of addiction and the need for rehabilitation treatment, they may find it helpful to be honest with their employees. They may feel that this opens the door to employees being honest about their own drug problems and also to get the help they need to overcome them. However, if an executive feels uncomfortable about telling their employees about their addiction problems, or that telling their employees about their addiction problems could create a bad public image for self or the company, it is best to simply quietly make arrangements to take a leave of absence and participate in private executive rehabilitation treatment.

For more information about executive rehab, contact Narconon Ojai today.

AUTHOR

Jessica Bradham

Jessica is a Registered Drug and Alcohol Technician with a desire to help others find real solutions to the ever-growing problems associated with addiction.

NARCONON OJAI

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION