How to Help a Coworker Who Is Struggling With Addiction

Quick answer: Talk to them privately, without judgment, about specific things you have observed — not accusations about what you think they are. Point them toward confidential resources: their EAP, their union member assistance program, or a direct call to a treatment center. Do not cover for them indefinitely, and do not turn it into a group intervention at work. One caring, private conversation from a respected peer moves more people into treatment than almost anything else.

Why coworkers see it first

Spouses adapt gradually and often normalize the decline. Coworkers see the sharper picture: the smell at 7 a.m., the shakes before break, the pills, the near-misses, the personality swings between shifts. In many jobs — construction, healthcare, public safety — a coworker's impairment is also a safety issue for everyone around them.

What actually helps

Speak privately and specifically. "You seem off lately and I'm worried about you" lands. "Everyone knows you're a drunk" does not. Name what you have seen, say you care, and stop — no diagnosis, no ultimatum.

Know the confidential doors before the conversation. Look up your EAP number, your union's member assistance program, or a treatment line like ours — (725) 550-5655 — so you can hand them something concrete. People act in the window right after a real conversation; make the next step effortless.

Expect denial the first time. Most people deny it initially. The conversation still works — it plants the marker that someone sees. Many people who call us mention a coworker's comment from weeks or months earlier.

What backfires

• Covering indefinitely. Fixing their mistakes and taking their shifts feels loyal, but it removes the consequences that motivate change — and eventually implicates you.
• Public confrontation. Shame drives the problem deeper underground.
• Reporting as a first move (except for immediate safety risk). Once formal discipline starts, options narrow. Give the private conversation a chance first — but never sit on an active safety danger.

If they are ready

Have them call us directly at (725) 550-5655 — confidential, 24/7, and their union benefits may cover treatment. If they want company for the call, sit with them. That small thing is often the difference.