10 Signs You Work in Addiction Treatment

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Working in the addiction field can be stressful and overwhelming but overall it is a very rewarding job. I’ve thought of 10 signs you work in addiction treatment.

10 Signs You Work in Addiction Treatment…

1. Working overnights (the life of an overnight tech can be rough)

The life of an overnight tech is one of a night owl for sure. Working nights and sleeping days can take a toll on a person but if you’re working a solid program – you can do anything!

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2. Being on-call for work (even when your shift is over, you still can be called in)

When you have a job that can call you at any time if you’re needed, it can be frustrating. The good news is you can handle all of this today because you are sober.

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3. Having to be confidential about a lot of things that happen at work (you can’t share any of the client’s personal information with people)

It can suck when something crazy happens at work and you can’t talk to your friends about it. Following the guidelines of the addiction treatment center you work at shows a lot of responsibility.

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4. Having to be careful not to bring your work home with you (it can be hard creating boundaries and separating your emotions from the job)

My grandfather worked in addiction treatment for many years and said one of the hardest things is not bringing your work home with you. It is difficult but you must have your boundaries with work.

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5. Awkwardly finding out that someone you know relapsed (going into work to see someone you know is now a client)

It can be strange to walk into work one day and see someone you know from the rooms sitting in there, when you didn’t even know they had relapsed! It’s awkward but you’ll get used to it.

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6. Running into clients at meetings (and not being able to say hello unless they speak to you first)

In the purpose of respecting the client’s privacy, we aren’t supposed to say hello to them if we see them out unless they say hello first. Rules are rules.

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7. Feeling like a chaperon or parent at work (having to watch over grown-adults can make a person feel that way)

It’s crazy how immature grown-adults can act. Sometimes it can feel like you’re watching children. Just remember, we were all there at one point in our early sobriety.

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8. Being able to separate your program from your career (your job isn’t your program)

This can be serious. To work in the addiction treatment field, it is a must to keep your program and your job separate. Some people get a job working in treatment and think it’s their recovery – it isn’t.

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9. Getting to apply your experience, strength and hope in your daily work (it is so rewarding being able to help struggling addicts and alcoholics)

This is one of my favorite parts of working in this field, being able to share my experience with the clients in treatment. You can truly affect someone’s life and their sobriety in a positive way.

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10. Knowing that you can relate with a lot of the people you work with and can be open about your life in addiction (you can talk freely about your past drug and alcohol use and don’t have to hide being in recovery)

Being able to walk into work and know that other people are in recovery like you and you don’t have to hide it can bring you so much relief. I don’t like hiding who I am and today, I don’t have to!

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If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.