Reader situation
You have started to notice changes. A morning meeting was missed after a late night. A colleague asked whether you were all right. A task you used to handle easily now takes longer, or you have arrived at work still feeling the effects of drinking or another substance. None of it feels dramatic, and it is easy to tell yourself it is a busy patch. But the changes keep showing up in the places that matter at work: attendance, reliability, relationships and safety.
Central idea
Concrete changes in how you work are a reasonable signal to talk with someone qualified. You do not need to decide whether you “have a problem” before you ask. Addiction is a health condition, not a character flaw, and an assessment is simply a way to understand what is happening and what support fits.
Practical steps
- Notice concrete changes. Write down specific things you have observed, such as late starts, missed commitments, errors, conflict or moments when you felt unsafe doing your job. Facts are more useful than verdicts.
- Record concerns privately. Keep the list somewhere only you can see. This is for your own clarity and for a professional, not for a Circle or a group chat.
- Assess immediate safety. If you are intoxicated at work, need to drive or operate equipment, or feel unwell, stop and make the safe choice first. If you have tried to cut down and felt shaky, confused or very unwell, seek medical advice promptly rather than stopping abruptly on your own.
- Prepare questions. Note what you want to understand: what the changes might mean, what kinds of support exist and what a first step could look like.
- Contact qualified support. Book time with a doctor, a licensed counselor or a treatment referral service. Choosing a date turns concern into action.
Worked example
Fictional example
The people and details are invented to illustrate an approach. It reports no outcomes.
Daniel realizes he has missed three Monday check-ins in two months, each after a heavy weekend. He writes the dates down, along with a near miss driving to a client site. He adds two questions: “Is this something I should be worried about?” and “What are my options?” He books an appointment with his doctor for the following week and does not try to stop drinking abruptly on his own before he has been seen.
Companion tool: Private concerns list
Answer each question privately.
Boundaries
- This resource cannot tell you whether you have a substance use disorder. Only a qualified professional can assess that.
- It contains no detox, tapering or dosing advice. Stopping some substances suddenly can be dangerous; withdrawal needs medical assessment.
- Collasia Circles are for peer support, not assessment. Keep personal health details out of public spaces.
Where to find support
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, may have taken too much, or has symptoms such as confusion, seizures, hallucinations or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number.
In the US, SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, offers free, confidential treatment referral and information 24 hours a day, and FindTreatment.gov lists services near you. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.
Outside the US, contact your local emergency number, your doctor or a national helpline in your country.
Sources consulted: US Department of Labor, Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit; NIDA, Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment; MedlinePlus (NIH), Alcohol withdrawal.
Member action
Write a private list of concerns and book a conversation with a healthcare professional. Choosing a date is the most important part.
Discussion prompt
What makes it easier for professionals to ask for health support early rather than late?
