Substance abuse affects the daily life in all aspects of a person suffering from addiction and addictive behaviours. This doesn’t stop even when a person is at work/working. The use of substances by employees in corporate and other work environments during working hours has become something that happens more often than you would think. Regardless of drug policy’s at work, drug tests that might be done or even possible risks of being caught. According to drugabuse.com “22.5% of people admit to using drugs or alcohol during work hours. 1 in 4 men admit to using drugs or alcohol in their place of work, while 1 in 5 women say that they have used drugs or alcohol in a professional setting.” Substance abuse and addiction are a huge global concern and very costly to all societies where they occur (Hitzeroth & Kramer, 2010:13; Miller & Weisner, 2002:3). Ignoring or sweeping the matter under the carpet in the workplace can become an occupational hazard. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993) Companies including any employer are responsible for managing the negative aspects of substance abuse in the workplace. Addressing the abuse of substances and helping employees or colleagues with substance abuse may benefit the work environment in the following ways: Saving on recruitment costs, as these employees or colleagues remain in the business following treatment. Reducing losses of absenteeism or impaired productivity of employees or colleagues; Creating a more productive environment for all employees. Creating and sustaining a positive moral culture in the office; Reducing the risk of possible injury or harm due to impairments; and Enhancing the public view or reputation of the business as informed and supportive. The International Labour Organisation(ILO)” code suggests that “employees with alcohol or drug related problems should be treated in the same manner as workers with other health problems.” So should an employee be identified or need help with their addiction problem, the employee shouldn’t be discriminated. They should get the benefits offered by their employer. Most organisations have wellness programs but in those that do not, assistance should be provided to the employee to get access to counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation. References drugabuse.com (accessed May 2024) (Hitzeroth & Kramer, 2010:13; Miller & Weisner, 2002:3). Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993) ILO publication, Geneva. www.ilo.org.za – accessed in May 2024
The fact is that life has its ups and downs. This can be as a result of a chain of personal or professional sufferings. As individuals we have different ways of coping. Some of us tend to cope with our hardships by resorting to the abuse of substances including alcohol or other forms drugs that will not only affect our health negatively but can add more suffering to our personal or professional hardships as well as affect others that are around us negatively. Imagine going out one night to meet up with a friend at a bar where you went to drown your sorrows. Having one too many glasses of wine and the next thing finding that you crashed into a car at a stop light on your way home. Finding that two of the passengers in the car you crashed into are seriously injured and there is no one else to blame but you, the drunk driver. There is absolutely nothing worse than knowing your actions have hurt innocent people. The feeling that you get from this is shame and guilt. You feel like you don’t deserve to live, that it should have been you instead because you are experiencing hardships and you feel like your life is miserable, worthless and lonely. Lamia, M. (Emotions: the engine of attention, (2010) p.81) points out, that “the feeling of guilt, blame and shame is the most dangerous especially when you are experiencing your own personal or professional hardships”. The feeling of guilt causes you to experience mental discomfort and pain. No person likes the feeling of pain. So when you start feeling that pain you end up telling yourself that you need to numb or do something to help you forget about this pain. Overcoming Guilt Overcoming guilt doesn’t need to be lifelong journey. Taking the right steps and action plan can make the feeling of grief and shame temporary. Here are a few things you can do to combat the power that guilt has over you. Share your feelings with a loved one or talk to someone or people that are in the 12 steps program. Consult a professional mental health practitioner like a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. Share goodwill. Nothing beats the spirits of giving back. Doing good or helping others will assist you to focus off yourself and your problems. Give a helping hand to those that can use your help. May it be animals or people.
Often, poems and inspirational sayings can help lift spirits and focus on the important things in life. When you are battling a drug addiction, poems can help keep you focused and on track with recovery. It can motivate you toward action and getting help for your addiction. Perhaps the most well-known poem is “The Serenity Prayer”: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change To change the things that I can And the wisdom to know the difference Since drug addiction requires people to leave their old life behind in order to recover, the next poem called “Begin Again” is quite inspirational: One of the best things we can do in our lives is; Begin again Begin to see yourself as you were when you were the happiest Begin to remember what worked for you and what worked against you Begin to try and re-capture the magic that is life Begin to live a lifetime each day as you did when you were a child Begin to forget your baggage, the problems that don’t matter anymore, the tears that cried themselves away, and the worries that are going to wash away on the shore of tomorrow’s new beginning Tomorrow tells us it will be here every new day of our lives If we are wise, we will turn away from the problems of the past And give the future and ourselves a chance to become the best of friends Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the heart to let yourself Begin again ~ Author Unknown People with a drug addiction can find some beautiful words to live by in a poem. It can speak to them and motivate them to action. For example, this next poem tells us of hope and letting go: “Two Days”: There are two days in every week About which we should not worry Two days That should be kept free from fear and apprehension One is yesterday with all its mistakes and cares Is faults and blunders, its aches and pains Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control We cannot undo a single act we performed or erase a single word we said Yesterday is gone forever Then there is tomorrow With all its possibilities, it’s adversities, its burdens, its rewards Tomorrow’s sun will rise Either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds But it will rise Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow For it has yet to be born That leaves today Anyone can fight the battle of just one day It’s when you add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow That you break down It’s not the experience of today that drives a person mad It’s the remorse or bitterness of something that happened yesterday And the dread of what tomorrow might bring Therefore, it only makes sense For peace of mind and hope Live simply one day at a time Live today! ~ Author Unknown If you are struggling with a drug addiction, try writing your own poem. Look inside your heart, see what the addiction is doing to you and express your feelings in a poem. You may just find that you can inspire yourself! At Clearview Clinic we have a team of qualified expects who are available to answer any questions that you may have. We follow a holistic in-patient rehabilitation program for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Call today on +27 12 819 1422 or +27 61 424 1939 (24/7) or email us, (info@clearviewclinicsa.co.za) for an assessment. Its better now than later!
Drug addiction is a disease. There’s no doubt about that. In fact experts say that drug addiction is more of a brain disease than anything else. Scientific advances have offered amazing insights into how the brain works and what drugs do to the way the brain functions. Luckily, however, this disease is treatable and curable. Although drug use initially is voluntary once an addiction develops, that control is markedly changed. Imaging studies have shown specific abnormalities in the brains of some, but not all, addicted individuals. While scientific advancements in the understanding of addiction have occurred at unprecedented speed in recent years, unanswered questions remain that highlight the need for further research to better define the neurobiological processes involved in addiction. Recent studies have increased our knowledge of how drugs affect gene expression and brain circuitry, and how these factors affect human behavior. They have shed new light on the relationship between drug abuse and mental illness, and the roles played by heredity, age, and other factors in increased vulnerability to addiction. New knowledge from future research will guide new strategies and change the way clinicians approach the prevention and treatment of addiction. When we approach drug addiction as a disease instead of as a choice, the treatment options are greatly increased. We can research what areas of the brain are affected and find the best methods to address that affliction specifically. Doctors treat cancer, diabetes, and other disease like this, drug addiction should be no different. Viewing drug addiction as a disease can also help researchers delve further into genetic propensity to drug use and addiction. That means we will know whether or not drug and alcohol use is linked to our family history and will be able to tackle the problem before it actually becomes a problem. There are medications available to treat withdrawal symptoms when a person stops using drugs, but when drug addiction is researched as a disease, scientists will be able to come up with new medications that could actually prevent drug use from becoming an addiction. Similar to medications that make alcoholics sick when they drink. There are all sorts of diseases in the world. There’s no doubt about it that drug addiction is one of them. We need to start looking at it in that way and then taking the appropriate steps to treat drug addiction just as we would another disease like cancer or Alzheimer’s.
Drug addiction knows no boundaries and doesn’t pick or choose who it will affect. Celebrity drug addiction is commonplace today in the business, and it is just spotlighted more because of the high profiles of today’s celebrities. It’s not uncommon to hear about another celebrity entering rehab for drug addiction. The list can read like a Who’s Who of Hollywood. Big names like Whitney Houston, Keith Urban, Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey, Jr., Ricky Ric, Zahara and Drew Barrymore, to name just a few, have all been through drug rehabilitation for their addictions, and the list is much longer than that! Why do so many celebrities fall prey to the perils of drug addiction? Just like people who are not in the limelight, celebrities deal with different stresses in their lives. The difference is that their stresses are much larger in general than everyday people. They have to deal with paparazzi, managers, critics, the media, and every word they say is noted and commented on. There is a lot of insecurity in the world of fame and fortune. When celebrities feel that insecurity so strongly, they look for a way out, an escape from their problem – that escape is often drugs. That’s not even taking into consideration the price that comes with sudden fame. When celebrities go from being everyday people to being thrust into the spotlight, they often have trouble adjusting. Leading a private life doesn’t become an option as their every move is followed and their rises and falls are noted sometimes with scorn from fans. There’s something that goes along with celebrity in that many stars feel as if they’re almost immune to the possibility of becoming addicted to drugs. It’s a matter of having so much money, they figure, “Why not, I won’t get addicted”. Being a celebrity is a hugely stressful profession and actually, they are more prone to drug addiction because of that stress. Celebrity drug addiction is really no different from non-celebrity drug addiction. It is just as serious and just as difficult to quit. That is why so many celebrities are seeking out rehab facilities in an attempt to kick their habit for good. Places like Promises and The Betty Ford Clinic are brimming with celebrity patients seeking to overcome their drug addiction. The good news is that with celebrity drug addiction becoming so well-known, more people are less afraid to seek out treatment for their own addictions. They realize that if the people they look up to – celebrities – can fall victim to drug addiction, so can they. And if those same people are strong enough to be treated for that drug addiction, they can be strong as well. At Clearview Clinic we have a team of qualified expects who are available to answer any questions that you may have. We follow a holistic in-patient rehabilitation program for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Call today on +27 12 819 1422 or +27 61 424 1939 (24/7) or email us, for an assessment. Its better now than later!
Drug addiction is the subject of many books that are out on the market today. When you have an epidemic that so many people suffer from like drug addiction, writers often make that epidemic the subject of their books in the hopes that they will be able to help people recover from their problems and leave their unhealthy life behind. Walk into any bookstore, go to the self-help section, and see how many books there are on drug addiction. For those who are struggling with addiction, it can be a soothing sight. If you have a loved one with addiction, it’s a comfort as well to know that there are so many tools available for you to help your loved one beat their habits. A quick search on www.amazon.com or www.takealot.com for “drug addiction recovery” shows over 200 books available for sale. That’s a huge selection to choose from! There are also a number of e-books available online that can be purchased and downloaded often for just a little bit of money. These e-books are often written by very qualified people who have researched the subject in-depth and brought together information from various sources. The advantage to buying an e-book is that you don’t have to pore through several different websites to get information plus, you can usually download them any time of the day or night. How convenient is that? You don’t necessarily have to buy a book on drug addiction. There is a wealth of information available at your public library as well. Most libraries will let you keep your book for an extended period of time as long as you continue to renew the check-out. What should you look for in a book on drug addiction? Actually, a lot! First, look at the author. Are they a medical professional or a therapist? Do they have the qualifications and credibility to write a book on drug addiction? Is the book organized well and easy to read? Does it have chapters that apply to your particular situation? When you look over the index, see if anything interests you or looks like it’s something you have never thought about when it comes to drug addiction. Of course, price has got to be a big factor when you are choosing a book on drug addiction. Will you be getting the information you need for the money you will be spending? Most books will be priced in the R50 to R500 range at the bookstore. E-books are generally much cheaper, so keep that in mind when making your selection. If you are dealing with a drug addiction or have a loved one with a drug addiction, books can be great resources for getting help with the problem. Being pro-active when it comes to the situation you are in makes recovery from drug addiction a slightly easier road to travel. When you are armed with information, you’ll have the tools you need! At Clearview Clinic we have a team of qualified expects who are available to answer any questions that you may have. We follow a holistic in-patient rehabilitation program for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Call today on +27 12 819 1422 or +27 61 424 1939 (24/7) or email us, for an assessment. Its better now than later!
Drugs and alcohol abuse are a virus that has been spreading in South Africa for a long time. It’s a growing problem in our society, and alcohol and drug addiction has become a tough nut to crack, so to speak. Drugs and alcohol make people feel good. When they are able to feel those feelings, they are apt to use more just to maintain that feeling. Eventually, the drugs and/or alcohol take hold of a person’s life until they are completely controlled by the effects they are used to. They may realize they have a problem, but when the painful withdrawal symptoms start, using seems like a much better option than suffering. South Africa has declared a “war on drugs”. This is a great effort, but it might just be too big of an epidemic to control. The real truth is that if we take a personal interest in healing those around us, we can gain control of the problem one person at a time – if we’re lucky. Recognizing the signs of alcohol and drug addiction are actually quite easy – when you know what you’re looking for. While the following signs are just suggestions to look for, don’t take them lightly: Chronic bloodshot eyes Behavior other than normal Always disappearing for long periods of time Problems with work or school Excessive shaking or tremors Financial problems Avoidance of social situations Spacey or unintelligible conversation If you recognize any of these signs in a loved one, you should take steps to confront your loved one and try to steer them towards recovery efforts. The process is not simple, but when you take the time to help them realize that what they are doing is damaging not only themselves but those around them, they will possibly be more open to help. Alcohol and drug addiction can be debilitating to families all over the world. It takes hold of lives and can ruin them in an instant. Drug and alcohol addiction are very serious diseases that should not be ignored. If you think you or a loved one might be struggling with this powerful problem, seek help now! There are more resources available now than ever before when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. Whether you seek out help from an in-patient rehab facility or through a counseling service, it’s imperative that help be gotten in any way. Drug and alcohol addiction can be conquered, but first, there needs to be an admission that a problem exists. That doesn’t mean weakness, that actually means strength! At Clearview Clinic, we follow a holistic in-patient rehabilitation program for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Call today on +27 12 819 1422 or +27 61 424 1939 (24/7) or email us, for an assessment. Its better now than later!
There is a reason people become addicted to drugs. The psychiatric aspect of addiction to drugs can be very powerful. Our minds are very complex and the thoughts we have can become rulers in our lives. Because we are these complex beings with the capabilities of thinking and reasoning, we often discount the mind as just a small part of who we are. Nothing could be further from the truth. The psychiatric implications of drug use are ever prevalent and can wreak havoc in the lives of someone with an addiction to drugs. What exactly are we talking about? The psychiatric aspects of the mind and how our mind can control our lives is something mental professionals have known about for a while now. It’s time you learned yourself. For example, if you are the child of an addict – whether it be a pot-head parent or an alcoholic parent, your mind begins to justify your own marijuana use or alcohol use as being alright. After all, if your parents are doing it, it can’t be all bad for you – right? Well, that’s what your mindset becomes. Drugs also have an effect on the brain. It’s a proven, scientific fact that addiction is a brain problem. When you start using drugs, your brain gets used to having that drug around. When it’s not present, your mind starts “talking” to you and you believe what it says – that you must have that drug to function. What can you do to try and beat the psychiatric implications of drug addiction? The best answer to that question is to get some help. That means talking to a counselor or health professional about your addiction and asking ways that you can overcome your addiction. There are many programs available to people who are dealing with drug addiction. They treat both the mind and the body, because you will be going through some withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop doing drugs. With professional help, you will be able to successfully conquer the hold that drug addiction has on you, your life, and your mind. At Clearview Clinic, we follow a holistic in-patient rehabilitation program for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Call us today on +27 12 819 1422 or +27 61 424 1939 (24/7) for an assessment. Its better now than later!