Addiction Recovery Solutions For Restaurant Workers

Restaurant workers have represented a big part of the American workforce for decades. Whether enjoying a night out at a bistro with friends or grabbing a quick bite at a favorite take-out spot during a break at work, we often rely on food service workers in our daily lives. However, many restaurant workers work long hours in high-stress environments, leading to drug or alcohol use and addiction. A study published by the Journal of Social, Behavioral, & Health Sciences found that addiction rates among restaurant workers are very high, more so than in other industries.

Restaurant workers with substance use disorders (SUDs) may think that ingesting alcohol, cocaine, or other substances is just part of the energized atmosphere of a busy kitchen or bar. However, these substances are highly addictive, and addiction among restaurant workers can lead to serious physical, mental, and emotional concerns. SUD recovery solutions for food service workers, such as professional treatment, EAP services, and peer support groups, can help get someone on the path toward long-term sobriety.

Below we’ll continue to explore how common addiction is among restaurant workers, contributing factors, recovery options for these employees, and more.

How Common Is Addiction Among Restaurant Workers?

According to a 2015 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the food service and hospitality industries display the highest rates of SUDs. The report found that from 2008 to 2012, illicit drug use among adult employees was highest in the food service industry. Additionally, the food service industry has the third highest rate of heavy alcohol consumption of all employment industries.

Contributing Factors

The food service industry is one of the most demanding employment sectors in the U.S. All aspects of these jobs, from bussing tables to preparing food and drinks, are expected to be done quickly, efficiently, and with a smile. Though being seated and ordering food may seem easy enough as a customer, many people don’t consider all the factors that go into seamless service.

All restaurant workers, from managers to hosts, have multiple tasks to accomplish at any given time. During weeknights and weekends, popular restaurants and bars are often packed full, with wait lists. Customers also have more options than ever when it comes to dining out or grabbing a few drinks, adding stress to get customers in and out quickly, with exceptional service so that they’ll come back again.

Many restaurants and bars are open late hours. This means that employees may not get home until the wee hours of the morning, which disrupts normal sleeping patterns, meal times, exercise regimens, and socializing opportunities. When time set aside for self-care and relaxation is eaten up by work, people may feel on edge, tense, stressed, and anxious, leading to substance use. Additionally, employees may feel they need to work more to prove to upper management they’re worthy of their jobs, contributing to added stress and addiction risks among restaurant workers.

Alcohol consumption rates are very high among establishments that serve alcohol. Employees have easy access to many types of alcohol while on the job, which may entice them to drink if they feel overstressed about the demands of the workday. Employees working many hours throughout the week may feel their only time to have any “fun” is on the job, so they may indulge in substances to feel relaxed and make the shift more enjoyable. However, this can have many detrimental effects on the employee, on customers, and on the business overall.

Addiction Treatment And Other Support For Food Service Workers

Addiction among restaurant workers is very common, and there are many ways for these professionals to get the help they need. Through one or several options detailed below, a restaurant worker facing drug or alcohol addiction can find support for keeping their career and health intact.

Workplace Support

Food service workers spend a great deal of their days, and/or nights, at work. The atmosphere they work in ultimately affects their mental and physical well-being, even if they don’t realize it.

Many leaders in the restaurant industry have learned that a positive, supportive work environment coincides with productive and healthy employees. Managers, supervisors, shift leads, and owners can create a workplace where employees feel supported, heard, and respected. Though stress and mistakes at work will always arise, an employee who knows they are supported through those obstacles may not feel the need to turn to substances.

Support options for employees include but are not limited to the following:

• allowing as much flexibility as possible in employees’ schedules
• encouraging open communication
• providing health insurance and/or an employee assistance program (EAP)
• offering paid time off, including a specific number of mental health days

Workplace support need not only come from upper management, though it is often best started there. Fellow employees can also support each other.

This may look like:

• helping out during an exceptionally stressful situation
• covering a shift when a coworker needs a day for self-care, doctor appointments, or other obligations
• picking up or dropping off a coworker who needs a ride
• acting as a non-judgmental listener
• thanking a coworker for helping or complimenting them on a job well done
• supporting and celebrating a coworker’s sobriety

Support Through An EAP

Support from the workplace or from a union can come in the form of professional help. An EAP can provide valuable support to restaurant workers with addiction or other mental health issues. EAPs offer free, confidential resources and services to help employees address personal issues, including substance use problems.

An EAP can help restaurant workers access:

• counseling
• assessments
• referrals to professional treatment such as detox services, rehab programs, or outpatient therapy options

EAPs often provide flexible, short-term counseling that fits into busy work schedules.

Professional Treatment

An EAP can help connect restaurant workers with professional addiction treatment. Workers who don’t have access to an EAP through their employer or a union may still have their employer’s support to seek professional care. Payment options include private insurance, Medicaid or military insurance, and payment assistance such as a sliding fee scale offered at some rehab centers.

Professional treatment options are the best way to tackle addiction head-on. In these supportive environments, people facing addiction have access to evidence-based, holistic, and alternative methods of addressing SUDs. People can first detox safely with close monitoring, then move on to residential or outpatient treatment options so they can work on changing behaviors and learning coping skills.

Restaurant workers with low-severity SUDs may benefit from outpatient treatment options, such as intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), so they can recover while still working. Outpatient options include many of the same treatment options as residential or inpatient care, but don’t require clients to live on-site.

Treatment in a professional setting may include:

• medical detox
• individual therapy
• group counseling
• medication-assisted treatment for alcohol or opioid use disorder
• anger and stress management skill development
• art, nature, or adventure-based therapy
• meditation, yoga, or tai chi
• case management
• dual diagnosis care
• aftercare

Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment

Many people with SUDs also have other mental health issues occurring alongside their addiction, such as clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, or bipolar disorder. Treatment facilities may offer dual diagnosis treatment in these cases, providing treatment for both disorders simultaneously. Co-occurring disorder treatment addresses mental health issues through supervised detox, if required, therapy, medication management, and other proven approaches.

Because many people may not be aware that they have both an SUD and a co-occurring mental health disorder, seeking out a rehab center that provides dual diagnosis care may be a good option. Treatment professionals at these rehab centers are trained in identifying, diagnosing, and treating co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Peer Support Programs

Peer support groups are another option for restaurant workers with addictions. These peer-driven and often free groups may be based on a 12-step model, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA); utilize a non-12-step approach, such as SMART Recovery; or be uniquely designed for restaurant workers in recovery, such as Ben’s Friends.

These programs offer restaurant workers with SUDs support systems, practical advice on staying sober, and opportunities for accountability. Members may be asked to guide others through the steps of the program, lead a meeting, or help with the logistics of the meeting to keep them involved in their sobriety. Restaurant workers in recovery often find the camaraderie they were looking for at work in the rooms of peer support groups.

Signs Of Addiction Among Restaurant Workers

The food service industry moves fast, and it can be hard to recognize the signs of addiction in a restaurant worker if you yourself are also part of the industry. However, anyone with an SUD eventually shows certain signs relating to behavior, demeanor, or appearance.

Signs of addiction among restaurant workers include:

• missing shifts
• arriving late to shifts
• taking many breaks
• engaging in risky behaviors, such as drinking or ingesting substances during work hours or driving under the influence
• decreased productivity
• changes in weight
• increased drug or alcohol tolerance
• bloodshot eyes
• trembling hands
• slurred speech
• poor personal hygiene
• fatigue, irritability, or mood swings
• constant financial troubles

Addiction Treatment At Spring Hill

Boston is among America’s top 10 cities with the most restaurants. Spring Hill Recovery Center, in nearby Ashby, offers comprehensive solutions that help restaurant workers keep their jobs, achieve long-term recovery, and lead healthy, productive lives. Please call us today to learn more.