Teaching is a stressful job, and that stress can build up to dangerous levels for even the most skilled and experienced educators. Negative feelings of guilt about addiction and the fear of social and professional backlash can increase stress, creating a snowball effect if it’s not taken care of quickly. Many in the teaching profession turn to a drink to unwind or sedative medication to relax, not intending to become addicted. Though, with addictive substances and behaviors being easily available and socially acceptable, it can be easy to accidentally become dependent on drugs or alcohol.
If you find yourself or a loved one suffering from excessive stress and turning to substance abuse, exploring your treatment options is critical to reworking your habits and behaviors in a healthy way to get you back to work. Read on to learn more about how stress is related to addiction, who teachers can turn to for a private and convenient solution to their substance use disorder, and how Greenbranch Recovery, in New Jersey, can help you overcome your addiction.
Stress and Addiction: The Worst of Both Worlds
Teachers face high levels of stress every day and feel responsible for the future of their students as well as their own future. On top of that, it’s all too common for a teacher to be underfunded in the classroom, which further compounds stress. Studies show that around 94% of teachers pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. Add long hours spent preparing classrooms, grading papers after class and planning lessons – it leaves teachers with a larger-than-usual workload compared to the average profession. It’s no wonder someone in that position might want to have a drink every now and then.
Social drinking, though, can easily turn to binge drinking and an addiction to alcohol when you’re at high risk for drug abuse. Given the stigma and professional risk associated with substance dependence disorders, it can be hard to say how many teachers live with addiction, but recent studies show 5.5% of people in the education industry have substance abuse issues.
While we are all only human, the fact is, students look to their teachers as role models. We don’t look at addiction as something that damages your reputation or lessens the effectiveness of your leadership, but rather as a bump in the road. We want teachers across New Jersey to know that they can overcome the stressors in a productive manner and change their life.
Greenbranch Recovery focuses on customized outpatient and partial residency programs that allow you to participate in treatment while maintaining your normal work schedule and ensuring privacy as you manage your alcoholism or drug addiction.
COVID-19 Burnout With Substance and Alcohol Abuse
By now, everyone has felt the weight of stress brought on by the coronavirus. Sadly, this has led to some people losing their personal battle with addiction — by the end of May 2020, the U.S. had experienced the highest number of overdoses in a single year ever recorded. Teachers are especially susceptible to the extra stress of having to manage large groups of kids remotely while also learning new technology. The pain of isolation is faced by teachers and students alike.
Even the strongest person can wear down over time, so don’t feel guilty if you are experiencing COVID-19 burnout. Not only can COVID-19-related stress cause a higher risk of substance use disorders, but using drugs and living with alcoholism can cause a serious issue when it comes to susceptibility to infectious diseases and healing from them. Studies show that people who use substances are at a higher risk of developing a serious health condition if they get sick with a seasonal cold or the coronavirus and have a longer recovery time.
Stress can lead to mental health issues and potentially cause serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, or lead to using illicit drugs and developing substance abuse disorders. It’s important that those struggling with substance use seek treatment to prevent health catastrophes.
FMLA for Substance Abuse Treatment
As a working professional, there’s a distinct danger of losing your position if it is discovered that you have been engaging in illegal activities such as using illicit drugs. Administrations take into account the possibility that drugs and alcohol were consumed on campus, during work hours or in the vicinity of any students or other children. Any employer who discovers they have someone with a substance abuse problem on their team can choose to let that person go, especially if they’ve been violating company policies against drug use.
When looking for drug rehab for teachers, it’s important to consider if the treatment process you choose will allow you to keep your efforts confidential. If you had to take time away for an inpatient rehab program, would that cause your employer to fire you? These questions can be scary, but it’s important to remember that addiction is a disease and can be experienced by anyone, even a good teacher. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers to allow people to leave their position for up to 12 weeks, unpaid, for any medical reason, including substance abuse treatment.
If you qualify for FMLA protection (generally based on company size), you must request a leave and follow all the standard procedures to take it or you could lose your job. Teachers in a union or under tenure may also find some job protection if they need to take leave to go to an inpatient treatment center.
Your insurance coverage may also provide some support, potentially helping pay the cost of treatment programs. Check with your insurance provider to see if you have rehab coverage. In general, the larger community is supportive of people seeking addiction treatment. Employers could be liable for discrimination charges if they fire someone for seeking addiction treatment services under FMLA laws.
Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment for Teachers in New Jersey
If you or a loved one is one of the 8.3 million Americans with a recent addiction to alcohol or drugs, you can end the cycle now by seeking help with a specialized addiction treatment provider. Outpatient and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) might be the perfect solution to help maintain confidentiality and preserve your professional reputation. By participating a few hours a week, you can continue to perform your job while completing your treatment program. There are customizable treatment options that give easy access to treatment for those needing the most flexibility to treat their substance use disorder.
Greenbranch Recovery is built for teachers like you who need a little help getting back to normal. Go online or give us a call to speak with a friendly addiction specialist who can help you figure out your next steps with our leading substance abuse recovery programs. Our team of licensed health care providers and addiction counselors is dedicated to upholding our exceptional quality care standards while performing treatment practices, ensuring every patient is able to focus on seeking treatment. Reach out to learn more about outpatient rehab at Greenbranch Recovery in New Jersey, explore additional treatment options and start treatment.
At Greenbranch Recovery, patients’ privacy is our highest priority. We use ethical marketing practices to advertise our drug rehab. Professionals can remain confident that their job security is never impacted by seeking help with alcoholism and the available rehab options. Support groups and specialized programming are made available to fit around your schedule, so call now to find the help you need.
Addiction Treatment for People in the Teaching Profession
As a teacher, your priorities go beyond your students. Get treatment for a substance use disorder so you avoid taking into the classroom what is hurting you at home. Call Greenbranch Recovery today at (609) 622-5101.