Addiction in United States

Effects of High Addiction-Related Stress on Health and Personal Life

• Health effects

  • Physical: sleep disturbance, appetite or weight changes, fatigue or low energy.
  • Mental: increased anxiety or depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating.
  • Risk considerations: higher risk of relapse, accidents, or injuries related to impaired judgment.

• Personal life and relationships

  • Strained relationships with family and friends due to secrecy, conflict, or withdrawal.
  • Parenting and caregiving challenges; reduced social engagement and increased isolation.
  • Financial stress and trust issues impacting closeness and support networks.

• Work and daily functioning

  • Decreased focus, productivity, and reliability; higher absenteeism or tardiness.
  • Safety concerns in jobs with risk of harm or error; strained professional relationships.

• What helps (brief, actionable steps)

  • Seek evidence-based treatment and support (therapy, medical care, and, if appropriate, medication-assisted treatment).
  • Build a support network; consider digital resources like October for group sessions, assessments, and mental health content to complement addiction support.
  • Establish healthy routines (regular sleep, balanced meals, physical activity) and set boundaries to reduce triggers.
  • Talk with a trusted supervisor or HR about available supports (EAP, flexible work options) if stress is affecting work.

• When to seek help in the US

  • If you’re in immediate danger or having thoughts of harming yourself, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • For ongoing support, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit samhsa.gov; NAMI can also help at 1-800-950-NAMI.

• Productivity and performance: more absenteeism, presenteeism, lower output, and higher turnover due to addiction-related stress.

• Health care and employer costs: increased medical claims, disability, workers’ compensation, and need for addiction treatment services.

• Labor market stability: longer hiring and training cycles, reduced job tenure, and potential skill erosion.

• Social and family costs: heightened family stress, poorer child and household outcomes, and greater involvement with social services or the justice system.

• Macro and fiscal impact: weaker consumer spending, higher public spending on treatment and welfare, and potential drag on GDP and long-term growth.

Workplaces can mitigate these effects with evidence-based addiction and mental health support (e.g., employee assistance programs, confidential coaching, flexible policies). October offers digital group sessions, assessments, and related content that may help when appropriate.

• Expand access to evidence-based addiction treatment

  • Increase availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and counseling across primary care, clinics, and communities; reduce insurance barriers and expand telehealth options.

• Harm reduction and overdose prevention

  • Widen naloxone distribution and training; fund syringe services programs; provide access to fentanyl test strips and connecting people to care.

• Prevention and early intervention

  • Fund and implement evidence-based prevention curricula in schools and communities; promote routine screening for substance use in primary care; strengthen family-based and early-intervention supports.

• Workplace and community mental health supports

  • Promote stigma-free help-seeking, robust employee assistance programs, and paid leave for treatment; train managers to respond empathetically; use scalable digital resources (e.g., October) for group sessions and assessments.

• Economic and social supports

  • Invest in housing stability, income support, job training, and transportation to reduce stressors that contribute to relapse and poor treatment outcomes.

• Data-driven policy and cross-sector coordination

  • Build integrated data systems to monitor overdoses, treatment access, and outcomes; fund ongoing research and evaluation; coordinate efforts across federal, state, and local levels.

• Create a stigma-free, confidential support system
  • Train managers to have empathetic, non-judgmental conversations; ensure confidentiality
  • Communicate clear policies and available resources (EAP, treatment options) to all employees
• Expand access to treatment and flexibility for recovery
  • Strengthen Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), provide insurance navigation, and offer paid time off for treatment
  • Provide telehealth options and facilitate referrals to evidence-based treatment
• Provide return-to-work and accommodations
  • Offer flexible scheduling, modified duties, or a phased return after treatment
  • Schedule regular follow-ups with HR/EAP to support ongoing recovery
• Build coping skills and peer support
  • Offer stress management, mindfulness, sleep hygiene, and resilience training
  • Facilitate peer support groups and digital resources (e.g., October for group sessions and assessments) if appropriate