Honor the power of your voice and begin your journey with us today!
Honor the power of your voice and begin your journey with us today!

Rehab Or Work?

Work is an important part of any successful life— after all, it’s the American dream. Providing for yourself, your family, whatever the circumstances, is priority number one for most people. That being said, it’s important to understand the risks of untreated addiction. Seeking medical help within an alcohol and drug rehab is infinitely more important for your health than the fears that hold you back from treatment.

Why Do I Value My Job Over My Health?

A common fear many people face before entering rehab is job loss. Understandably, the thought of personal information leaking into a work environment causes a great deal of apprehension. However, rationalizations and avoidance only lead to a worse addiction as time passes without proper help. Although your addiction may not currently affect your work performance, the longer you put off seeking treatment, asking “rehab or work”, the more you risk your stability and positive relationships at work. 

American society, and western society as a whole, put an enormous amount of pressure on job security. After all, living in a country without universal healthcare, low minimum wage rates, pay inequality, poor education, high poverty rates, and record-breaking incarceration rates, it’s no surprise many Americans value their jobs over their health and happiness. For this reason, it’s common for addicted people to delay or deny treatment in favor of their work lives. 

Why Rehab Is More Important Than Work

People suffering from addiction need the guidance, support, and care of medical professionals to regain control of their lives. Therefore, it’s more important to seek the help you need to overcome your addiction than to stay up to date on emails and expense reports. In fact, remaining at work with addiction is more likely to cost you your job than if taking time off for addiction treatment. Depending on your addiction’s severity, it can be nearly impossible to find a balance between a substance use disorder and work.

Fortunately, many programs offer outpatient treatment that works around your daily schedule. Outpatient treatment is a great alternative for those not able to commit to a full-time inpatient program. Not having to choose between rehab or work can mean the difference between a destructive life of addiction and recovery.

Balancing Work and Rehab

The ideal situation for addicted people who fear that addiction treatment may jeopardize their job security is outpatient treatment. Do note, outpatient treatment is best suited for someone with a mild-to-moderate substance abuse issue. On the other hand, if you suffer from a severe addiction, you are more likely to successfully recovery within a residential inpatient program. 

A little-known fact that many employers work with you to attend treatment, heal, and ultimately return to work. However uncomfortable that conversation may seem, you avoid issues at work by speaking with your supervisor about receiving treatment. Keep in mind, there is absolutely no shame in asking for help. In fact, seeking help takes immense courage and strength. 

Different programs will offer different variations on their outpatient programming. Some will require that you attend a specific schedule of therapy, while others will be very flexible. In general, outpatient programs offer the same therapies as more intensive programs. The program that works for you will depend on your individual needs. Consulting with an addiction specialist or doctor before choosing a facility can help you make a more informed decision.


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