Careers at High Risk for Substance Addiction

Most individuals will admit that their job can be stressful at times and create moments where they want to walk away and quit or possibly have more than they should to drink at an event. However, there are certain career fields that are more at risk to substance addiction (alcohol or drugs) because of the inherent nature of the positions. For these individuals it is critical to see the risk and have a way of dealing with the factors that put them in this category.

When determining ‘at risk’ industries, one of the first characteristics considered is the stress level. Police and emergency personnel immediately jump to the top of the list as they risk their lives every time they start a shift which can last anywhere from 8-12 hours. Over time this stress can become overwhelming in addition to the horrific things they see because of their work and coping with these situations becomes the #1 priority.

Often these individuals turn to substances that ‘numb’ the nerves just so they can stop the images or ‘forget’ for a time. Alcohol and drugs are the easiest to access and while it starts out small, the amount grows as the body needs more and more to achieve the level of euphoria that they are looking for. Another high-risk career field that most don’t expect to see on the list is teaching regardless of the level. While this would seem to be a fun-loving job, it too has a high amount of associated stress factors in dealing with kids all day, their issues and the pressures that come with having to meet standards at several levels. College students are also at risk not only because of the school/job expectations but also the peer pressure attached to fraternities/sororities and other cliques on campus.

The best alcohol treatment centers in NJ" understand the intricacies of each one of these scenarios and have put together custom programs to help individuals address their unique stress factors and how to deal with them. Outpatient treatment plans have proven effective for these high-risk patients where they spend the day in group and individual therapy learning techniques to handle the stress and being treated with medications to help wean off the substance. In the evening, they go home to their family and have the opportunity to apply what they have learned and deal with the situations in a familiar setting and then provide feedback to the counselor the next day. This balance allows these patients to mix in with their environment rather than being admitted for a month or more and then having to go through the adjustment process.

Addiction has no boundaries and doesn’t focus on just the individuals who work in high-stress jobs which is why it is so important to be vigilant so help can be gotten as soon as possible. Check out the alcohol treatment centers NJ and see how they can help you as a patient, provide support if you are family or get information so you know the signs to watch for in friends and family members. Stress cannot be avoided but it can be managed even in industries where it is part of the job.

There are a variety of factors that play a role in the addiction cycle and one of the major points is the career field you work in.