The signs of addiction are not as evident as they should, given the level of frequency that addicts crave to enjoying their addiction.

Addictions are often accompanied by secrecy because addicts are not always proud of them. Only those who are closer to them can see through them and identify their addiction.

Addictions found among oil workers are both behavioral and substance-related. For behaviors, oil workers are often associated with sex, gambling, partying, and food. They also get addicted to substances like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs.

Addicts generally exhibit some behaviors that differentiate them from others. Similar to how addictions are behavioral and substance-related, the signs of addiction can be both physical and behavioral.

Behavioral addictions like sex and gambling are harder to identify as the extent of secrecy that comes with it is very high.

Causes of addiction among oil workers

The nature of the oil job puts workers under so much stress and depression. Drinking and partying is only but a getaway that workers use to ease stress and catch some fun. More so, drugs can be a way for them to improve efficiency in their jobs.

Oil workers take stimulant drugs to stay awake on their jobs and sedative drugs to aid sleep between shifts. Co-worker’s influence is also an unarguable trigger to their addiction.

Signs of addiction in oil workers

1. Behavioral signs: They include secrecy, inability to cut back from drugs or habits, and loss of control.
2. Physical signs: Weight loss, body odor, slurred speech, and loss of consciousness are a few.
3. Psychological signs: Some psychological symptoms of addiction in oil workers are mood swings, depression, paranoia, anxiety, and trauma.
4. Mental health signs: Addicts in the oil industry also tend to exhibit mental signals like shakiness, loss of coordination, hallucination, impaired judgment, and a sense of reward.
5. Physical health signs: An addicted oil worker may also possess adverse health conditions from addiction. Health conditions like seizures, fever, headache, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, and loss of appetite.

Addiction among oil workers is certainly not farfetched with the strenuous routine they cope with at work. A good number of oil workers are addicted to one or more substances or behavior.

Many oil workers even retire early because of their inability to manage their addition, given the stress of their job.

Common addiction among oil workers

Similar to other fields of work, one of the most rampant addictions found among oil workers is alcohol addiction.

Most of them have the belief that it provides them with the strength to pull through their busy work schedule and effectively manage stress. This is somewhat untrue because most of them eventually end up with quality mental and physical health issues due to their addiction.

Another addiction common to oil workers is substance addiction. Most of them fancy spending time drinking at bars with their friends and co-workers during their time off than with their families and loved ones.

They derive their sense of belonging and satisfaction with other addicts rather than engaging in social activities.

Furthermore, oil worker often gets addicted to other behaviors like food, gambling, sex, and a long list of others. Society and their employers must help them on recovering from this uncontrollable obsession.

Effective campaign methods against addiction

1. Seminars and conferences: Employers and oil worker associations should chip in the ills of addiction in seminars and conferences and advice workers to abstain from them.
2. Active prohibition of addictive substances at work: Taking alcohol and drugs during work hours can be detrimental to their performance at work. They should take a rest when they have to rather than have themselves drugged to work. Therefore, employers should ensure they are out of sight.
3. Billboards at work: Putting up billboards and small prints that explain reasons why workers should refrain from addiction is another good way to go. Employers should have them fixed at strategic spots in the workplace.

The job of an oil worker is not meant for everybody. They face lots of work hazards that is not suitable except for the tough and resilient ones. And of course, they are rewarded immensely as their remuneration is higher than some of the common professions around.  

However, just like every other person, Oil workers need counseling and here’s a guide that tells you why

Anxiety Management

The oil industry is not safe as oil workers can lose their lives if an accident occurs. Oil workers are well aware of this and sometimes, they experience anxiety because of this. Amidst other issues, the thought of permanently leaving their families and loved ones behind doesn’t sit well with them.

If left untreated, anxiety can develop into a chronic condition that demands medical attention. This is where the counselor comes in, as he helps the oil worker uncover the root cause of their anxiety and create a way out for them.

Depression Management

Depression is a common mental health problem that many people face and oil workers are not left out. When there is a mood disorder like depression in play, it becomes hard for the oil worker to focus on their work.

With counseling, it becomes easy for them to manage their depression and have a stable mood.

Stress Management

The truth is, many oil workers don’t know how to take care of themselves after being stressed at work. This is why a number of them do not work for a long time. Some oil workers take care of stress the wrong way, as they prefer to indulge in substance abuse to keep them going.

A counselor helps the oil worker figure out how to take care of themselves amidst the stress they might encounter.  

Healthy Living

If an oil worker wants to live a healthy life that would allow them work in the oil industry for a long time, they need adequate counseling. Without this it would be impossible for them to live healthily.

Oil workers are greatly stressed and the primary reason is the stress and workload that comes with their job. The oil industry where oil workers belong to is usually one of the biggest industries for any country that produces oil.

There is always a high demand for oil from other countries which means that the country in question would need oil workers to improve their input.

As expected, oil workers are handsomely paid because of the demands placed on their job and this makes them blind to the stress they face.

Here are some health tips for oil workers

Healthy diet

Oil workers barely have time to eat a healthy diet because their job provides them with little or no time. This is why they rely on junks to keep them going. These junks either contain much fats or sugar which is not good for the body.

Oil workers need to know that for them to keep going in the long run, one of the things they need is a great diet. They should eat a combination of all the classes of food, accompanied by clean drinking water which should be taken regularly to keep them hydrated.

Be physically active

Oil workers need to be physically active and this particularly includes exercises. It is important for oil workers to see their healthcare providers and see what works for them when it comes to physical activities.

Check blood pressure regularly

Hypertension kills slowly and oil workers are at risk. It is advised that they see their healthcare provider to have their blood pressure checked regularly. If you have a high blood pressure, you might have to take a break from work.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Alcohol and drugs abuse give rise to substance addiction which is destructive. Many oil workers abuse drugs and alcohol as some of them are addicted. Alcohol and drugs addiction comes with no benefits and addicted oil workers need to get treated because their health is under threat.  

In any oil-producing state, the oil industry is usually one of the largest. Most people are attracted to this industry because of the large forms of remuneration involved. A good number of them have not factored into their plans, the possible downsides associated with this work.

Oil workers are very high earners, and this is because the gains from oil is massive, so oil companies have the capacity to handsomely pay their workers.

In some oil-producing states, you do not need to be well-read in order for you to work. Once you have a university degree, it is sufficient for you to get a good job as an oil worker.

It would interest you to know that, due to the fact that they are paid well, the money is usually enough to cater for the needs of themselves and their families. So, oil workers prefer to work themselves out, for the purpose of getting enough money for themselves.

The demands of any oil-producing state is usually very high. They would need to ensure their citizens are satisfied, and they would have to export to other states that do not produce oil.

Hence, a good number of times, oil workers are stretched beyond their output, and this makes them to resort to substance abuse, which makes them addicted in the long run.

So, since some of them indulge in substance abuse, they are able to cope in the short term. However, in the long run, they would discover that it is way beyond their control. Then, their productivity would be on the decline, and they would have to leave the job in no time.

The major reason why oil workers are addicted is because of stress, and one of the best ways to solve this, is to employ more persons, so that enough hands would be on deck.

Hence, oil workers would have more chance to rest effectively, spend ample time with their families, work and get paid well.

Just like everyone else, health workers can also come down with addiction problems, and if it is left untended to, there is a high tendency that the effects would be grave. In many developed countries, it has been studied that the rate of addiction among health workers is very high, as a good number of them struggle with a variety of substances which is dangerous to their health.

In similarity to other professionals, there are a good number of reasons why a health worker would either turn to alcohol or drugs, probably due to the fact that they are seeking measures in order to ensure that they remain active and alert all day long. It could also be due to the fact that they need something which would take their minds off certain painful moments.

Now, irrespective of the fact that the rate of addiction among health workers is very high, it is also known that they have a high rate of recovery.

Below are the usual signs of addiction among health workers:

• Frequent changing of jobs’
• Less preference of day shifts rather than night shifts
• Gloominess during the job
• Willingness to give narcotics to patients
• Unrest about extra time at work
• Regular bathroom breaks
• Financial and family stress
• Frequent errors in paperwork

One of the major reasons why health workers might be prone to addiction, is due to the fact that some of them could be tempted to use substances such as Fentanyl and the likes, because they have effortless access to them. They also have a good understanding of how these substances work, and they might feel compelled to give them a trial.

Now, it should be noted that health workers who are suffering from any form of addiction, are not only putting themselves at risk, they are also toying with the lives of the patients. At first, it is usually hard for a health worker to accept the fact that they are suffering from addiction. Later on, they usually come to terms with that fact.

It is advised that health workers who are suffering from addiction, should endeavour to find a treatment centre where they can receive good treatment.

Oil workers truly create their own demographic out of their lifestyles. Oil workers everywhere are known for their plentiful wages and their questionable purchases. Oil work is a male dominated field that does not require a high education. It also pays a pretty penny. This is the recipe for debauchery, and many oil workers end up needing addiction treatment in order to take back control of their lives. When they do, it is important that they know what to look for in addiction treatment to have the best possible experience. Some of the things they should require from the rehab they choose are as follows:

• Flexibility. Any rehab program that treats oil workers will need to be respectful of their work schedule. Oil workers typically do not quit their jobs in order to receive treatment, which means the rehab they enter will have to work around their days off. Most oil workers have extended periods of work and extended time off, rather than the usual five day work week, which means their days off can be devoted to treatment at a rehab that accommodates shift work schedules.
• Familiarity. Any rehab program that treats addicted oil workers should be well aware of the life an oil worker leads. They cannot counsel them or help them unless they know about the harsh living conditions, the lack of privacy, the male, group mentality and the lack of recreation in camps. All of these things influence the individual’s addiction tendencies. There are rehab programs that are created specifically for oil workers for good reason: there is no other group that fully understand the lifestyle of an oil worker.
• Personalized Treatment. Apart from belonging to a particular industry, oil workers are also completely unique as people. Some of them are musicians, some are poets and some are technology gurus. Every addict is far more than dysfunctional. They are also gifted and carry a unique perspective that can inform important matters. Addiction treatment should always aim to understand every client on a personal level so that their recovery plan can be just as unique as they are.

Everyone knows that prospering oil boom towns are places of debauchery. Every oil boom town in history has been a haven of prostitution, drug use and alcohol consumption. It is simply human nature to spend money on vices when a surplus of money is available, and oil workers are the epitome of this lifestyle. This is why it is unanimously agreed upon that oil workers should relocate in order to attend rehab. Going to rehab or any other form of addiction treatment while still being surrounded by the same environment will not be effective for oil workers. They must make a clean separation from the environment that has been toxic to them.

Relocating in order to attend rehab gets an addict far away from the things that trigger them Every addict has triggers. They take the form of driving past favorite bars, seeing someone else indulging in what they are addicted to, or even hearing a certain song on the radio. Essentially, anything can be a trigger because everyone’s relationship with their addiction is unique. Triggers are everywhere in an addict’s environment, underneath the surfaces of experiences, waiting like landmines. Relocating in order to receive addiction treatment moves the addict far from these familiar stumbling blocks.

Relocating also separates a person from any destructive relationships that they have close by. Most struggling addicts have destructive relationships in their lives somewhere. It comes with the territory, as most addicts naturally keep other addicts close by, either in their families or in their friendships. Some of these relationships can be addressed and healed in time, but others must be severed for the addict’s own safety. Relocating and receiving treatment does a lot to shed perspective on this matter.

And lastly, relocating an oil worker in order for them to attend rehab simply puts them into a neutral, safe environment where they can focus on their recovery without distractions. A change of scenery is good for anyone looking to make big changes in their life. The breathing room that a new location provides can do a lot for an oil worker who is ready to recover from addiction.

Addiction is hard to confront in any walk of life, but a particularly concentrated addiction problem is found in the Alberta oil industry. The availability of drugs and alcohol combined with uniquely harsh working conditions has created an addiction culture of epic proportions. Fort McMurray’s network of substance abuse treatment facilities have done all they can with the resources they have, but they are not plentiful enough to eradicate the problem. Fort McMurray addiction treatment centers are overflowing with addicts and substance abusers. It is essential that proper inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs be made available to oil workers.

When substance abuse is consuming a person’s life, often to the point of physical dependence on the substance, they need professional intervention in order to confront their problem and permanently end it. This means that professional intervention services should be employed to approach the addict about their problem, as well as the provision of an inpatient medical facility to monitor the person through their detoxification, a live in treatment center to safely separate the person from the substance they are addicted to, in depth group and individual counselling sessions to address the underlying problems that cause addiction, as well as the opportunity for therapeutic activities and ongoing after care to ensure continued sobriety.

There is no reason an oil industry employee should have to forego addiction treatment and suffer in silence. If the rehabilitation services of Alberta cannot meet the needs of addicted persons within the oil industry, then oil workers should look outside of Alberta. Most oil companies permit time off for substance abuse recovery, and even in the rare instances they don’t, recovery should be prioritized above all else. Addiction is taking the lives of oil workers through physical complications, overdose and suicide at alarming rates, and preventitive measures should be taken as soon as someone becomes aware of their substance abuse problem.

Canada’s oil industry is highly lucrative, but is fighting a losing battle to keep their employees in a healthy working condition. Substance abuse has an unprecendented hold on oil workers that is creating hardships for workers and companies alike. While the throws of addiction wreak havoc on the personal lives of oil field workers, oil companies become afflicted with workplace accidents, high employee turnover and absentee pay. It is clear that the solution for everyone is proper substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation for employees.

A common misconception is that an addict will be easy to spot in the work place. Those who are unfamliar with addiction may assume that an addict will have characteristics such as an unkempt appearance, slurred words and poor coordination, and will not be able to function on the level of a non-addict. While all these things can be true, an addict can also be a fully functional person on the job; someone that would never be suspected of substance abuse problems. Addiction wears many masks, but does the same internal damage to anyone it affects. Eventually, a physical, mental and spiritual tole will be taken on the addict if they do not receive treatment.

One major lesson that oil companies have learned from this substance abuse phenomenon is that the discovery of substance abuse in an employee should not lead directly to termination. The employee may have a good relationship with the company and a successful work history, proving to benefit the workplace. It is often in the company’s best interest to connect the employee with rehabilitation services and substance abuse treatment rather than replace them. This promotes a healthy, functional workplace and makes the employee feel secure that reaching out for help will not lead to the loss of their job. This means it is in the company’s best interest to see that its workers have access to quality drug and alcohol substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation.