Your Career Choice and Alcohol Consumption: Is There a Connection?

Need a drink after work every night? The type of job you have may be a contributing factor. For many people, jobs can be a source of stress and anxiety. This can lead to an increase in alcohol consumption as a way to cope with job-related stress.

Aside from stress, your job may promote and encourage alcohol consumption due to the work environment and access to alcohol. For example, working at a casino in Las Vegas, in a bar, or at a nightclub where drinking is normalized are obvious examples of professions that can promote or encourage alcohol use.  However, some of the other jobs that made the list may surprise you.

Careers with Higher Rates of Alcohol Use

Certain careers may be more at risk of misusing alcohol, and many of them you wouldn’t automatically associate with alcohol use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that occupations with the heaviest amount of alcohol use in people aged 18–64, in order from highest to lowest, include:¹

• Construction.
• Foodservice and hospitality.
• Recreation, arts, and entertainment.
• Utility.
• Wholesale trade.
• Management and leadership.
• Manufacturing.
• Forestry, agriculture, hunting, and fishing.
• Retail.

Occupations that reported the lowest rate of heavy alcohol use among 18–64-year-olds, in order from lowest to highest, include: ¹

• Healthcare and social work.
• Education.
• Public administration.
• Insurance and financial services.
• Technical, scientific, and professionals.
• Leasing and real estate.
• Warehouse and transportation.

Workplace Stress and Substance Misuse

Not surprisingly, studies have consistently shown a correlation between stress and substance use.² Everyone experiences stress, and it is something that can’t be avoided. However, if you experience stress and don’t have healthy coping skills available to manage it, you may be at risk for alcohol misuse. The more negative and stressful experiences you have, the more likely you may be to use alcohol to help reduce anxiety and increase feelings of relaxation.²

Jobs can induce stress and anxiety for many reasons, including:

• Conflict with colleagues and supervisors.
• Unclear performance expectations.
• Demanding work schedule.
• Job insecurity.
• Few opportunities for advancement.
• Repetitive or boring work tasks.
• Low salary.
• Peer pressure.
• Access to drugs and alcohol.
• Being treated unfairly.

Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Problematic alcohol use can impact a person’s demeanor, how they think, and how they behave. You may have noticed a change in the person’s behavior or attitude. Perhaps they are sending a lot of intoxicated text messages or using alcohol even though it has caused conflict in their relationships. If you think you or someone you love may be struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), there are warning signs to look out for.

Signs of potential AUD include:³

• Drinking alone and attempts to hide your drinking.
• Continuing to drink despite it causing relationship, health, and work problems.
• Having a strong desire or craving to drink alcohol.
• Increasing the amount of alcohol to achieve the same effect.
• Difficulty or inability to cut down on alcohol use.
• Spending a lot of time recovering from drinking alcohol.
• Inability to complete daily tasks at home, work, or school.
• Using alcohol in physically hazardous and unsafe situations.

Las Vegas Rehab for Alcohol & Drug Addiction

If you are struggling with addiction and looking for rehab in Las Vegas, Desert Hope Treatment Center offers comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment in a variety of settings.

At Desert Hope, medical professionals create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and recovery goals.  You can speak with a trained admissions navigator who can help answer questions you may have about the treatment process and can even verify your insurance coverage .