According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug addiction is so prevalent in today’s society that “In 2012, an estimated 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older – or 9.2 percent of the population – had used an illicit drug or abused a psycho-therapeutic medication (such as a pain reliever, stimulant, or tranquilizer) in the past month.” Although women are not immune to drug addiction, there are more men addicted to alcohol and drugs than women. Unfortunately, professional men are especially prone to denial about their addiction.
Drug addiction is an inescapable reality, but it’s not something that rules our culture because there are treatment options. The first step in curing addiction is to understand the source of the addiction; the reasons he is looking to escape from reality. Then, it’s essential that the addict get help.
Pressure in the Workplace
Many men face pressure at work. The addict may find himself dealing with excess stress he cannot handle on his own. As a result, he’s left in a vulnerable state and uses drugs or alcohol to escape the harsh reality. At first, the drugs may make his job more bearable; they may even improve his work performance. Over time, he will become addicted, and that addiction will cause more suffering, but the addiction will be too strong to fight.
Living With an Old Habit
In many cases, the man who falls into drug addiction actually has a history with the drug. He may have been addicted to drugs or alcohol before getting the job. As a result, his family has to put up with the effects of drug addiction.
It may not really affect his work performance, but it’s certainly is affecting his home life. If you’re curious, ask his family if they’ve noticed any symptoms of drug abuse. In many cases, addicts put in a lot of extra effort at work, while their home lives suffer.
Ways to Solve the Problem
There is no way around it; drug addiction is a problem that needs to be solved. The long term effects of drug addiction can be devastating. Fortunately, there are different rehab facilities available that can help the drug addict successfully kick the habit.
The first step is an intervention. Ask an addiction specialist or counselor to come into your workplace (or, meet in a park or at the addict’s home) and invite only people the addict trusts. Do not invite anyone who may agitate or upset him. Then, you can work to persuade him to attend meetings or a drug and alcohol rehab treatment center.
On-Going Treatment is Necessary
Breaking the habit is not the end of the battle. There is the possibility of falling back into the addiction. The best thing to do is to find something to take the place of the addiction.
One of the best things for the recovering addict to do is to associate with more productive people. That way, he will be less likely to fall back into the addiction. There are also meetings that he can attend and visit with other recovering addicts, so that he can get further insight as to how to keep from falling into former addictions and new addictions.
Anyone can be an addict. There are a lot of things that can cause a man to fall into addiction. It does not always have to be a drug. It can also be alcohol, or even food. Addiction is often used as a coping method, so determining the root of the problem is essential to beating the addiction.