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Workplace Alcohol Interventions

Workplace alcohol intervention techniques can be beneficial for those who suffer from alcoholism. Workplace alcoholism intervention requires careful planning, as well as information on the worker, the worker’s family, and other important items. In the workplace, it is possible to notice a worker’s habits and to educate the family, counselors, and others about the potential alcohol abuse. With the proper procedures, workers can get the help they need to recover from alcoholism.

A workplace alcoholism intervention may be planned due to a potential profit loss if the worker maintains the negative effects on the workplace. Over 185 billion USD is lost due to workplace problems each year. A screening and brief intervention, also referred to as an SBI, is often used in U.S. workplaces. This plan has been developed for workplace management and has information on the methods of an intervention and how an intervention should proceed.  For more information about the SBI and how it can be used in your business, call us.

The Alcoholic Intervention Process For The Office

These interviewers may be nurses, employee assistance counselors, doctors, or others. The initial visit is a screening. During this time, the interviewer will ask many questions, such as how much the worker drinks, how often his or she drinks, and the consequences that the worker has faced due to drinking. There are a number of different questionnaires and tests that an interviewer can use, but a popular choice is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or AUDIT. There may be many potential questions and graded answers on these tests, but many focus on the same important information. Some questions the worker may be asked include, “How often in the past year have you started drinking and found that you could not stop,” “How often were you unable to complete tasks expected of you due to drinking in the last year,” and “Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?” These questions help the interviewer understand how severe the dependency on alcohol has become.

After this initial process, the employee may be referred to therapy to quell the drinking habit. This is called short-term counseling, which may take as little as five minutes per session. This works as an educational program, helping the employee understand the risks associated with his or her drinking habit. It also helps the employee commit to stopping the dependency and teaches him or her the ways he or she can reach out for help and treatment. For more information about workplace interventions and how they can be applied to your work environment, call us.

Other Approaches To Alcoholism Workplace Interventions

Other types of workplace interventions may vary. For instance, some work with outside interventionists who help develop a plan for treatment prior to the intervention taking place. In this case, the professional is present when the worker is confronted about the alcoholic behaviors. This interventionist makes sure the environment is safe and provides the correct dialog to the worker. After this occurs, a plan that has previously developed is put into action. This may include having family present with the worker’s bags already packed for rehabilitation and detoxification, having a coach waiting to take the worker to rehabilitation, and more.

During the one or two hours of the intervention, others may be asked to tell the worker how his or her alcoholism has affected them. If the individual accepts the need for treatment, the group may travel with the worker to the rehabilitation facility. These individuals will also interact with the rehabilitation facility in order to give the facility more information about the patient. This helps the treatment center give the patient personalized care.

If you, your coworker, family member, or friend needs more information about the alcohol treatment facilities in your area, workplace alcohol intervention methods, and other important information about drug and alcohol dependency, consider calling us to gather all of the information you need.

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