Many individuals who enter drug rehab are employed and being gone from work can pose a problem. If you are in need of detox or have significant problems maintaining sobriety, it is possible that you will miss work for days, if not weeks. Many employers are supportive of drug rehab and will work with you so that you can return to your job after treatment. Remember that drug addiction is a disease, much like high blood pressure or diabetes. If you need hospitalization for diabetes, most employers would understand. Ideally, the same should hold true for drug addiction. If you find yourself saying “Not my employer!”, you may want to consider whether your time off for treatment would be covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). According to the Unites Stated Department of Labor, FMLA “entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.” Not all jobs are protected by FMLA regulations, but many are, particularly in larger companies and if you have worked for your employer for some time. Information regarding FMLA can be found on the internet or by contacting your employer’s human resources department. If you do not believe your employer will be receptive to your need for drug rehab or if FMLA is not an option, you can request time off for personal reasons, although you may find that your employer already knows that something is amiss and the time off may not be granted. Keep in mind that although there are exceptions, many employers are more aware of your difficulties than you may realize. Even if they do not know that you are using drugs, they may have noticed poor work performance and frequent absences from work.

When interviewing individuals who are in recovery, many who were employed at the time of treatment told their employer why they needed time off. Of those that told their employer they were going to attend drug rehab, a great many kept their job. There are exceptions, particularly if you have a job that involves handling controlled substances, such as a nurse in a hospital. However, “rigorous honestly” , as it is known in 12 step recovery programs, has solved many more problems than it has created. It is true that there are some jobs that will be lost through honesty, but one must ask oneself, “Is keeping this job going to help me in my recovery?” If the answer is “no”, the loss of a job and the opportunity to find a new job may be a blessing in disguise.

Who we are.

Valley Hope drug and alcohol rehab is a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality drug and alcohol treatment services at an affordable price. We started in a leased building on the campus of a state hospital in Norton, KS in August, 1967. Valley Hope now operates treatment facilities in seven states– Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Our Mission is to provide a quality continuum of comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment and related services, in a caring atmosphere and at a reasonable price, for all people experiencing problems with alcohol or other drug use.

Go to www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Tiffney Yeager grew up in Nebraska, completing her undergraduate work at Creighton University. She then completed a master\’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psyhology at the Univeristy of North Dakota. Dr. Yeager works at the Valley Hope Association. Go to www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Tiffney Yeager grew up in Nebraska, completing her undergraduate work at Creighton University. She then completed a master\’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psyhology at the Univeristy of North Dakota. Dr. Yeager works at the Valley Hope Association. Go to http://www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Author Bio: Tiffney Yeager grew up in Nebraska, completing her undergraduate work at Creighton University. She then completed a master\’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psyhology at the Univeristy of North Dakota. Dr. Yeager works at the Valley Hope Association. Go to www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: drug rehab, drug and alcohol treatment centers, alcohol rehab, drug rehab centers, drug rehab c