Is the Workplace a Relapse Trigger for Drug Addiction?

When initially getting sober, it is important to keep your personal life free of drama. This holds true for work as well. People who attend addiction treatment tend to jump back into full-time work as soon as they complete their program. Unfortunately, many have experienced a drug or alcohol relapse because of the stress accompanying their job. We all know what a bad day at work can bring: the boss yelling at you, too much to do, having to stay in the office later than planned…and the list goes on. It is hard enough to stay sober without the extra stress of work. If this stress can be avoided by changing jobs, it may be something worthwhile to look into. To help keep things simple, many in early recovery from drug or alcohol abuse find it helpful to get a “sober” job at first. A sober job is employment with minimal stress and few responsibilities outside of work.  Also, if a job requires a lot of socializing or attendance at dinner events, it may not be beneficial for an individual in early recovery. Getting sober requires a change in lifestyle. Sometimes, this means a change of careers.