How Will Recovery Impact My Career?

Addiction Issues, Long Term Recovery, and Your Career Path

What happens to your career when substance abuse, rehab, and related issues take over your life?

Suppose you or a beloved family member struggles with alcohol or drug abuse. You may be worried about significantly more than just your physical health, mental wellness, or the treatment plans your rehab is putting together for you.

Many recovering addicts find it difficult to focus on therapy sessions in rehab at first. Besides alcohol and illicit drug cravings creeping in or the effects of withdrawal making the recovery journey harder to focus on, many individuals in rehab also find themselves worrying about how they will afford to live once treatment is over. Others worry about their prior employment and having a job once they finish counseling. And still, others wonder what they will say to potential employers in a job interview after rehab treatment ends.

Will they struggle to find employment? Is there any full-time job that helps support their mission to stay sober? Or will their career options be significantly diminished due to their issues with prior substance use? Will rehab get in the way of them finding or changing careers?

Or will a new path open for them spontaneously?

Substance abuse disorders affect every avenue of an individual’s life.

From career to relationships with family members, interactions with friends, mental health, and physical wellness, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders take over a person’s life. And each year, the United States pays the economic and societal cost of problematic drug and alcohol use with trillions of dollars.

The recovering addict is not the only person to suffer due to abuse.

You Don’t Have to Lose Your Job to Substance Abuse or Addiction Treatment

It is possible to retain various types of careers, despite substance abuse problems, mental health issues, or the recovery journey.

Whether you’re returning to work after completing a drug or alcohol addiction program or are managing unemployment while working through counseling at your treatment facility. Even if you are undergoing outpatient treatment while working or starting a new career path. You may be concerned about the impacts of recovery on your long-term employment.

But alcohol and illicit drug use do not have to dictate the stability of your job indefinitely.

Of course, there are situations where jobs or employers cannot hold employment opportunities for clients endlessly.

But, a client in recovery can showcase their skills well enough to persuade their employers’ assistance.

Be Mindful of Self Care in Your Addiction Treatment

Even though an individual can enroll in a treatment plan that shows employers they are serious about healing and returning to work. It is vital not to bite off more than you can chew.

Yes, there are jobs and employee assistance programs dedicated to helping you find or keep your career despite active enrollment in a treatment center. Still, when you are working through the recovery process, you need to be more self-aware and sensitive to your environment. Returning to old practices can feel very comforting. But, it can also put you at risk to face triggers earlier or more frequently than you are ready to handle.

Encountering triggers before you are ready can spiral you into relapse.

The ultimate goal of treating substance abuse disorders is to help you avoid relapse. In gaining a better understanding of yourself, healing, and addiction, you can better navigate the world around you.

It can be great to return to old life or a familiar job. Still, you must also be prepared to make sacrifices to stay sober as a form of case management. Sometimes that may mean finding a new career or being open to changes in your position. Or even acknowledging your drug addiction rehabilitation journey, you need to evaluate what path is best for you for maintaining your sobriety. 

Addiction and Substance Abuse Treatment Can Pertain to Anyone

Substances abuse disorders can affect an individual regardless of mental health, job skills, social standing, age, or education level.

A corporate executive has as much chance of developing an issue with drugs or alcohol as a person who works as a line cook or goes to school. Illicit drug and alcohol abuse is non-discriminatory.

That is why treatment centers across the nation work to support individuals of all backgrounds and financial capabilities.

There is an addiction treatment center for everyone.

From luxury facilities on the West Coast in California to holistic practices like St. John’s Recovery Place (SJRP) in Florida, rehab can tailor to suit many tastes and needs. The treatment facility a person chooses to pursue healing for their addiction and mental health issues can pertain to anything. They can select a facility for therapy specific to their substance use issue or even to help them manage their eating disorders.

People in recovery tend to have their own goals for treatment besides just beating alcohol or illicit drug use.

Some individuals want to participate in continuing education programs. Others are interested in learning more about substance abuse disorders and rehabilitative practice; others need more extensive care due to co-occurring problems. Regardless of the reason for development, anyone willing to submit themselves to treatment can find a rehab and medical staff that works for them.

Addiction issues can affect anyone. But rehab can help everyone.

Can You Be Fired For Being a Recovering Addict?

Various laws protect individuals seeking substance abuse treatment.

Some of these laws work to target the creation of employee assistance programs specifically. Others may target private practice or utilize government agencies and resources to help talk employers into giving individuals in rehab a chance to display their skills.

But if you are explicitly worried about your job’s safety as a corporate executive, hearing about an employee assistance program in rehab may not sound very helpful.

Not to worry!

It Is Possible to Retain Your High-Income Career

But You Need to Check With Your Employer About Employee Assistance Programs and Policies

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created to protect employees from discrimination against physical or mental impairments that substantially limit at least one significant life activity. ADA laws cover an individual who suffered from addiction and received drug rehabilitation.

This does not include casual drug use.

It is intended for actual addictions that impair a person’s health and wellbeing. Therefore they sought treatment for addiction recovery. The laws protect an individual from getting fired or being discriminated against for attending rehab.

This can get tricky, though, because most workplaces do have policies against drug use in and of itself. Therefore you could still be fired for drug or alcohol use if you were using those substances at work or working while intoxicated. Suppose you feel you were wrongfully terminated due to discrimination. In that case, you can file a charge against your employer with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In addition, drug addiction treatment is covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA.) If your workplace offers FMLA, you may be entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave with job security. Your employer is required to maintain privacy regarding your situation.

Returning to Work After Drug Addiction Recovery

Considering Your Work Environment

Many people begin using and abusing drugs or alcohol due to their work environment.

Suppose you realize that your career was the source of your triggers or the environment is not conducive to your addiction recovery and sobriety. In that case, you may need to consider a career change.

Stress is one of the most significant factors for relapse. It is probably not the best idea to return to such a job or career if you’re in the recovery process. Stress, extreme demands, a lot of pressure, and a toxic environment can all trigger someone in the throes of drug addiction recovery.

Other times, the job itself may be great, but the exposure may be the issue. For instance, if you manage a bar or work at a winery, it may be hard for you to work in that environment. If your coworkers habitually meet for happy hour and you’re constantly pressured to join them, it could lead to relapse. Or if you have coworkers or employees you used to get high with, it is simply too high of a risk.

On the other hand, your workplace may be great for maintaining motivation and a source of structure and purpose. You may do even better at your job now that you have a clear mind and a positive outlook. You might consider being open about your addiction recovery with your coworkers. They can be a great source of support and accountability. You may even find others on the same journey as you are.

Getting a Job After Recovery

If you need to find a new job, you may feel very timid, whether by choice or not. You may be concerned about your potential employer questioning your gaps in work history. You may be afraid they’re going to judge you if you tell them about your addiction and subsequent rehab.

The first thing to know is that you do not have to tell them about your addiction or rehab. You can state that your gaps in work history are due to past medical issues that have been resolved and won’t interfere with future work. They legally cannot ask further questions about medical issues.

However, depending on the job, you may want to consider being honest and upfront—the employer, whether before or after hiring you, may find out about your addiction anyways. If you decide to tell them about it, they must keep your information confidential. They cannot talk about it with your coworkers, clients, etc. And you may find that your employer or coworkers are a great source of support.

Honesty and confidence tell a lot about a person’s character.

If you’re nervous about your drug addiction recovery, you’ll come across as timid and anxious. You’ll fare better in an interview if you’re confident about yourself and your skills.

Addiction Recovery Is a Strength, Not a Weakness

This leads us to the most crucial point. You need to know your worth.

Yes, you struggled with addiction. Yes, you had your fair share of problems. Yes, you went through rehab and the recovery process. But every experience is a learning experience. You have gained a tremendous amount of positive attributes from your experiences.

When you confront your drug addiction, you become tenacious, developing perseverance, drive, and determination as you go through the recovery process. You also become reflective and self-aware as you address deep-rooted issues and work on bettering yourself. Additionally, inpatient rehab or group therapy allows you to become connected to others and practice empathy.

The entire process teaches resilience and flexibility as you maneuver the many emotional, mental, and physical hurdles that come along with drug addiction recovery.

All of these skills are critical in the workplace.

These abilities allow you to be a better employee from trade jobs to sales, customer service to management. A focused, goal-oriented individual who is capable of succeeding.

That’s not to say that going back to your job or finding a new one will be easy as a recovering addict. But if you remember your worth and all the positive attributes you can offer, you’ll already be one step ahead.

John’s Recovery Place – Addiction Treatment Center Dedicated to You

The recovery journey can prove challenging, even for the most self-motivated person.

At St. John’s Recovery Place, the reality of addiction, healing, and employment are taken to heart. Utilizing holistic avenues of therapeutic interventions, SJRP medical staff and professionals help support clients through every phase of emotional, mental, spiritual, and bodily rehabilitation.

We know it can be tough to see your worthwhile in rehab.

While you are working to heal, we will cheer you on, reminding you every step of the way how loved, worthy, and important you are. Please don’t wait for another second to start your journey towards sobriety; call us today at 1-833-397-3422 to learn more about what your treatment at SJRP can look like.

The sooner you start, the faster you can begin finding employment assistance programs and opportunities that are right for you. Call today!