Addiction at work

Experienced counsellor Carolyn Dugmore, whose Wits degrees include a Master’s in Occupational Social Work (2014), counsels for ICAS (Independent Counselling and Advisory Services) in South Africa, which focuses on employee wellness and behavioural risk management for corporates. She says dependence on substances, including drugs (illegal or legal), alcohol and sugar or food, is a notable problem in the corporate sector. There has also been a rise in technology-related dependencies, such as internet addiction disorder, internet gaming addiction, cyber relationship addiction and cyber porn addiction.

“In the corporate sector, life is highly pressured at all levels and people are using various avenues in their attempt to manage the pressure, ease anxiety, lift depression and escape from daily worries.”

Addictions can lead to disciplinary issues such as absenteeism, late-coming, injuries and accidents, lying, theft and conflict with colleagues.

“When confronted about their addiction, people tend to deny it, minimise the problem, rationalise it or project it onto other people, says Dugmore. “Emotional confrontations often do not work because feelings can be debated. Confronting the person with facts is usually essential. Facts include being arrested for drunk driving, abuse of a spouse while drunk or on drugs, receiving a protection order, and being blacklisted due to debt problems.

“If I am seeing a person with an addiction problem who is defensive about it, I often ask them to write down over a week or two what they are using and how much. I find that this method, if they are honest about their use, helps to bring about the recognition of the impact on their life, and then to make the choice to change their actions.

What family and friends can do

“One approach is to ask the person with the problem to meet with a group of two to four people who have influence in his or her life. They each present some facts connected to the person’s dependency in a concerned and respectful manner, with the goal of assisting the person to accept reality and, if possible, to make a firm commitment for treatment.”

Dugmore says the problem generally needs to be assessed by a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or GP. Support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are also excellent sources of support.