If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, it is important to recognize the signs early and get treatment where possible. In many cases, those with an addiction are simply trying to meet their needs, and those needs might refer to self-medication for a high-stress job. So, which jobs have the highest addiction rates?
What Jobs Have the Highest Addiction Rates?
There are many fields that are associated with having the highest addiction rates, including high-stress executives, medical professionals, attorneys, military personnel, and miners.
Military
For starters, enlisted active duty military tend to have the highest rates of alcoholism.
The exact rates for addiction are difficult to determine in large part because those who are active duty do not report their addictions for fear of losing security clearance, pay, and rank.
Nonetheless, it is estimated that one in three service members are binge drinkers, which is higher than the national average of one in four. Rates of binge drinking are higher among men compared to women.
As of 2018, thirty-four percent of active duty actually reported binge drinking, though this, of course, does not account for those who did not report. Across each branch, there are slightly different rates with the army, for example, reporting that thirty-five percent of service members meet the criteria for hazardous drinking behavior.
Why?
The Department of Defense has concluded that there are many reasons why, including:
- The military culture of regular binge drinking
- PTSD
- Active combat exposure
- Workplace stress
- An inability to seek help for mental health issues
These are not the only career fields with high rates of addiction.
Miners and Oil Workers
Similar to military personnel, those who work in mining or oil rigging also report some of the highest rates of alcohol abuse across all other professions. Studies indicate that this is in large part due to the high stress of the job as well as the hazardous work conditions and the fact that the majority of people in these fields are men who cultivate a culture of drinking.
Executives
Executives often struggle with high-stress careers that contribute to the highest addiction rates.
Thirty-six percent of lawyers start drinking habitually while in law school, many during their first year. This is often in an attempt to meet the high demands of their educational requirements but leads to higher rates of alcohol addiction.
Pilots
Pilots have demanding schedules that interfere with regular sleep cycles and circadian rhythms. In an attempt to stay hyper-focused, many pilots develop addictions to stimulants but require sleeping pills like benzodiazepines or alcohol to fall asleep later once their shifts are over.
This leads to a vicious cycle where flying for 12 hours or longer might require the use of stimulants ranging from caffeine to prescriptions, and then trying to fall asleep immediately after means the use of alcohol or sleeping pills.
Healthcare and First Responders
Those who work in the healthcare field or as First Responders struggle with rates of prescription drug abuse and addiction that are significantly higher than the general population in large part because of the multiple traumas to which professionals are exposed on a regular basis as well as the high stress and demands of the career.
Doctors, for example, abuse prescription drugs at rates five times that of the general population, with sixty-nine percent of doctors reportedly abusing prescription drugs at least once throughout their careers. Many abuse benzodiazepines and opioids to which they have easy access compared to the general population.
Getting Treatment for Addiction with Ava Recovery
For those who are struggling with high-stress jobs, our drug and alcohol detox programs can provide a safe place to work on detox and transition into residential inpatient programs that combine things like DBT and IFS group therapy as well as individualized therapy.
We understand that different career paths come with varying levels of stress, unique demands within the workplace, and other issues that can contribute to the highest addiction rates in specific industries. If you or someone close to you is working in those fields or employed in jobs that have the highest addiction rates, our luxury facility with a professional chef, ice baths, pool, and volleyball court can all help bolster your recovery in a stress-free environment.
While jobs with the highest addiction rates can have demands unlike other career fields, our treatment center has peace and tranquility, unlike others. Discover how our on-site equine-assisted psychotherapy and treatment of addiction as an attempt to meet your needs can help you with your recovery.
Call us today at (833) 330-3009.
