International Stress Awareness Week: the link between stress and substance misuse

International Stress Awareness Week (ISAW) is an annual event that aims to highlight the importance of recognising and managing stress.

Organised by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), the week encourages individuals and organisations to address stress and its impacts on mental and physical wellbeing.

Stress is a significant concern in Ireland, particularly in the workplace. In a 2023 survey of 1,000 full-time employees, 47% admitted to feeling stressed at work, while 34% said they did not feel recognised for their contributions.

For some, prolonged stress can even cause them to turn to drugs or alcohol to cope.

In this blog, we explore why ISAW is important, how stress can lead to substance misuse, and how employers can combat workplace stress to promote employee wellbeing.

The importance of ISAW

ISAW aims to highlight the widespread impact of stress on mental and physical health, encouraging individuals and organisations to take proactive steps in managing stress. This is especially important in the workplace, where stress can easily go unnoticed.

According to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), work-related ill health remains a pressing issue, with emotional demands, time pressure, bullying and harassment, long working hours and poor support all being major contributors to workplace stress.

These factors have been linked to increased absenteeism and reduced productivity.

By raising awareness and reducing the stigma around stress, International Stress Awareness Week aims to promote healthier, more supportive work environments, encouraging employers to recognise the importance of mental health and wellbeing for their workforce.

Stress and substance abuse

Stress triggers an overproduction of cortisol, a hormone linked to the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. This can cause some people to seek temporary relief using alcohol or drugs.

However, reliance on drugs and alcohol for short-term relief can reinforce harmful coping mechanisms, leading to dependency, and making it harder to break the cycle over time.

This means it is extremely important to identify and address stress early, to mitigate against the risks posed by substance misuse and addiction.

Combating workplace stress

Employers play a crucial role in managing and reducing workplace stress.

Long hours, heavy workloads, and a lack of support can all contribute to high levels of stress, increasing the risk of burnout and, in some cases, substance misuse.

By taking proactive steps, employers can create a healthier, more supportive environment for staff.

To combat workplace stress, employers should:

• Encourage open communication and provide mental health resources, such as counselling or employee assistance programmes (EAPs)
• Promote work-life balance by offering flexible working hours where possible, and reasonable workloads
• Conduct regular audits to identify and address key stressors in the workplace
• Train managers to recognise signs of stress and offer early intervention to support employees

By fostering a supportive environment, businesses can help reduce stress-related issues, including the potential for substance misuse, while improving productivity and staff retention.

Drug and alcohol testing for businesses

International Stress Awareness Week serves as an ideal reminder to employers to prioritise employee wellbeing and mitigate against the risks associated with workplace stress.

This includes having a robust substance misuse policy in place, demonstrating a commitment to workplace safety, and ensuring the company’s stance on drug and alcohol misuse – and how such situations will be managed – is understood by all colleagues.

AlphaBiolabs works with businesses across Ireland, in a variety of sectors, providing a broad range of drug and alcohol testing services: from random and for cause (post-incident/accident), to pre-employment and return-to-work testing.

Our state-of-the-art, ISO 17025-accredited toxicology laboratory can analyse a variety of samples for the presence of drugs, alcohol, and their metabolites, including oral fluid (saliva), breath, urine, hair, and nail clippings.

Plus, with our network of expertly-trained sample collectors available, coupled with walk-in centres in Dublin and Belfast, you can trust us to collect your samples quickly and efficiently.

We also offer:

• drug and alcohol awareness training
• drug and alcohol testing policy creation and review services
• sample collection training – should you prefer to collect your own samples for testing on site

To find out more, call our Workplace team today on 01 402 9466 or email workplace@alphabiolabs.com to discuss a bespoke solution for your business.