People who are addicted to drugs like shabu (methamphetamine), marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and other substances are everywhere. It doesn’t matter what their economic status, educational background, location, age, job, or physical appearance. You can’t judge a drug addict by looks alone, nor by superficial stereotypes.
Addiction can come to anyone regardless of status, job, education, religion, or gender. And this is why it’s hard to see if someone you know is already addicted to drugs or a high-functioning addict. In fact, you may have someone in your workplace who is already a drug addict and is bringing grief to you or your organization.
A drug addict has many faces. They may be productive members of society, such as functioning addicts. However, they won’t be functioning for so long, as addiction takes everyone on a downward spiral of destruction.
How to Spot a Drug Addict in Your Workplace
If you suspect someone is a drug addict in your workplace, here is what you should look out for:
- Sudden change in behavior. If someone you know used to be in good spirits, amiable and is level-headed, but then suddenly acts different, this is a red flag. If a colleague or boss starts acting out of character, becomes moody, shows terrible temper, has anxiety and depression, or is just different, then this could be a sign.
- Self-neglect. If you have an office mate that has begun to neglect personal hygiene and properly dressing up for work, then that’s one thing. Taking care of appearance and health often loses priority when drugs comes to center stage.
- Absenteeism and tardiness. Their work performance may falter and they may also miss work, submit deliverables late, and just not show up on time. This shows that the most important activity in their life involves drug use instead of work or family.
- Disappearing suddenly. Even when they do show up at work, they may sneak off during break times to get their hit.
- Secretive behavior. They may be hiding something, and this can be seen by the way they act. They may be dodgy when you ask them certain questions or may hide receipts, have no explanation for paraphernalia in their bags or for their behavior.
- Making mistakes. Simple mistakes may start to happen because their attention is elsewhere. Or, they may have withdrawal symptoms or cognitive and behavioral problems that affect their work. These mistakes can be dangerous if it causes them or other people to get into accidents or become injured.
- Tired all the time. A drug addict may have erratic sleep patterns. They may stay up all night and therefore come to work burned out or tired. By this time, they’re coming down from their high and have less energy and motivation for work.
- Changes in work interactions. A drug addict will have changes in their behaviors that affects how they interact with colleagues and superiors. They may withdraw from friends or people they used to hang out with at work. After-work cocktails may be declined and they will simply start to isolate themselves.
- Hanging out with suspicious people. You may notice them getting off work and meeting up with people whom you may suspect to be drug addicts as well.
- Missing items in the office. A drug addict’s lifestyle is expensive. To support it, their salary may not just be enough, and so they may start pilfering things from the store or the office. They may also resort to stealing stuff from their own co-workers.
- Borrowing money from co-workers. This is also another red flag. What used to be enough for a person may not be so for a drug addict. They will sell or pawn everything they have, take out loans, and even borrow from co-workers. This is also when money troubles start and they have bad relations with people they can’t pay back.
While these signs may not all indicate addiction per se, it’s best to be vigilant. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s fire and an office mate exhibiting these red flags may need help.
Recent Comments