The days of the “Mad Men” style martini-laced business lunches are a thing of the past… right?
Once upon a time it was very common for an executive to have their corner office outfitted with a liquor cabinet. Back then, those mahogany-lined executive suites were incomplete without an array of crystal carafes brimming with bourbon or gin. At the very least, a bottle of something stashed inside a desk drawer was not at all uncommon.
During the last few decades, the workplace has cleaned itself up, with most companies now enforcing zero tolerance policies for substance use on the job. Alcoholic beverages are no longer a staple of business lunches, and many companies now require mandatory drug or alcohol testing as part of the hiring process.
Under the Influence at Work
The scale of the problem is larger than most workplaces acknowledge. According to a report from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), 24% of workers report drinking during the workday at least once in the past year, and Breathalyzer tests detected alcohol in 16% of employees injured at work. Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that more than 10.8 million full-time U.S. workers have a substance use disorder, with elevated rates in construction, mining, food service, and hospitality. Prescription medications, including Xanax, Valium, Adderall, and Vicodin, are commonly misused in professional settings as well.
Most employees with a substance use disorder do not actively use at work. But the effects show up regardless. High absenteeism, poor focus, arriving hungover, and elevated accident rates all follow a person into the workplace whether or not they are on the clock.
The NCADD report notes that 70% of current illegal drug users are employed full-time. For many, stress drinking or off-hours drug use gradually erodes job performance long before the problem becomes visible to a manager.
What Are the Signs of Workplace Substance Abuse?
Many people with a substance use disorder manage to conceal it for months or years. But certain patterns tend to surface over time. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s handbook on alcoholism in the workplace, a manager’s role is not to diagnose an employee but to document performance and conduct issues and refer the person to available support. With that framing in mind, here are eight signs of an intoxicated employee or someone struggling with signs of drug use at work:
- Hand tremors. Someone with a moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who is attempting not to drink while at work will often experience withdrawal symptoms, including hand tremors.
- Odors. The distinct odor associated with alcohol or weed is detected when someone is actively using these substances during work hours.
- Withdrawing. Someone with an active substance use disorder may begin to isolate themselves more at work, or avoid work-related events, in an effort to avoid detection of the signs of drug or alcohol use.
- Disheveled appearance. Someone with a deteriorating substance use disorder will begin to ignore personal appearance and hygiene, appearing unkempt at work.
- Taking lots of breaks. Excessive trips to the restroom may be an indication of cocaine abuse, or of withdrawal symptoms that include nausea and vomiting.
- Declining performance. Includes being uninterested in fully participating in job duties, excessive absenteeism, being unprepared for meetings or presentations, and a general lack of effort to complete assignments or projects.
- Accidents. Drugs and alcohol impair coordination and cognitive functioning, which can result in workplace accidents and injuries.
- Aggressive behavior. Belligerent behavior at work is a sign of intoxication that can result in verbal, physical, or sexual assault.
In addition to these overt signs of substance use disorder in the workplace, there are peripheral effects that can impact employee morale, including:
- Resentment can begin to fester towards a coworker who is not pulling their weight on the job due to their substance abuse problem.
- People may begin gossiping about the individual, spreading rumors and negatively affecting workplace culture.
- An employee’s addiction may result in illegal activities, such as buying or selling drugs at work, or crimes like embezzling from the company.
- High-performing employees who grow tired of carrying the weight of an underperforming colleague, or who feel unsafe in the workplace, are more likely to leave.
What Employers and Coworkers Can Do
Spotting the signs of an alcoholic at work or identifying signs of drug use at work is only part of the picture. Knowing how to respond matters just as much.
Employers should document specific performance and conduct issues rather than making assumptions about the cause. Referrals to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), when available, give employees a confidential path to assessment and treatment without the immediate threat of job loss. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, alcoholism is recognized as a disability in many circumstances, which means employers have legal obligations to consider reasonable accommodation before taking disciplinary action.
Coworkers are often the first to notice changes in a colleague’s behavior, but confronting someone about suspected substance use is difficult. The instinct to ignore the problem or cover for a struggling colleague, while understandable, can delay the person from getting help. A more constructive response is raising concerns with HR or a supervisor and letting the appropriate resources take over from there.
Employees who receive support and access to treatment return to work more focused, present, and productive. That outcome benefits everyone. But getting there requires more than a referral to HR. It requires access to a rehab center for alcohol and drug use that offers individualized, evidence-based care.
If you are watching a colleague show these signs and are unsure how to respond, Ashley has guidance on approaching someone under the influence at work that can help you handle the conversation with care. For professionals navigating addiction themselves, Ashley offers confidential treatment programs for working professionals designed around the specific pressures and stakes of a professional career.
Reaching out is the first step. You can contact Ashley directly or submit an admissions inquiry to learn what care looks like for you or someone you know.
