One of the most common myths about addiction is that problems with drug and alcohol abuse only affect “unsuccessful” people. Addiction doesn’t care where you went to college, how much you earn, or what awards you’ve won for your volunteer work. It’s a chronic illness—not a character defect.
Success Can Be a Double-Edge Sword
Researchers are still struggling to fully understand what factors trigger the development of a substance use disorder. Studies with identical twins and people who were adopted as children show strong evidence for a genetic component, but that represents only about 50% of a person’s overall risk. The rest can be attributed to environmental factors and general personality type.
Healthcare professionals and other high achievers who develop addiction often have the following risk factors:
- Unmet childhood needs. People who are very successful in their careers are often striving to provide themselves the security they lacked in childhood. Unfortunately, growing up in a home marked by instability with parents who weren’t attentive to your needs also places you at a higher than average risk of developing a substance use disorder as an adult.
- Intelligence. It might seem counterintuitive that people with higher than average IQs would be more vulnerable to addiction, but research has shown that highly intelligent people are more likely to struggle with substance abuse and mental illness—often because they feel as though others don’t understand them and because they become easily bored with day-to-day routines.
- Sensation seeking. Being inclined to seek out new experiences and viewing yourself as a bit of a daredevil can pay off in the corporate world, but this same approach to life may lead you to be more inclined to experiment with addictive substances.
- Perfectionism. Successful people are driven by a sense that they must be the best at what they do. This unwillingness to accept that failure is a normal part of life can lead them to turn to drugs and alcohol to medicate the unpleasant emotions they feel when things don’t work out as they had planned.
- Anxiety. It’s quite common for substance abuse to be a way to self-medicate the symptoms of a mental health disorder. A high-achieving professional who is anxious about climbing the corporate ladder may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope with the pressure.
- Independence. High-achieving individuals are often fiercely independent. Their insistence on doing everything alone makes them reluctant to ask for help when they are struggling with substance abuse.
Corporate Culture Can Be Problematic
Sometimes, corporate culture furthers the development of a substance use disorder by creating the expectation that regularly drinking or partying with clients is desirable behavior. In these situations, even someone who realizes they may be developing a problem can be reluctant to seek help for fear of upsetting their peers.
Even when a high achiever doesn’t work in an industry strongly associated with substance abuse, the corporate culture can exacerbate an addiction by creating the expectation that strong leaders don’t show weakness. Fear of needing to take time off for treatment and being replaced by a competitor is a common concern among professionals struggling with substance use disorders.
Enabling Often Plays a Role
Enabling refers to behaviors that allow someone with a substance use disorder to continue abusing drugs or alcohol without consequences. For a high achiever, there may be an organized assistant who is making sure all deadlines are met and that projects are completed to satisfaction. Or, there may be lower-level employees who suspect a problem but are reluctant to voice their concerns because they are worried about their own job security.
Family and friends of a high-achieving individual with a substance use disorder may make excuses for addiction-related behavior by saying their loved one is under a lot of stress due to pressure at work. They may genuinely believe it’s not possible for a successful person to have an addiction, or they may worry what others would think if the truth were to come out.
Getting Help
Effective addiction treatment is personalized to meet unique individual needs. For successful professionals, this may include developing a plan that accommodates work responsibilities and the desire for personal privacy while also helping to build the coping skills that are essential for a life of long-term sobriety.
At Waypoint Recovery Center’s South Carolina substance abuse treatment program, our holistic approach begins with an individual assessment that looks at a client’s biological, psychological, and social needs to develop a personalized treatment plan incorporating family services, group therapy, individual therapy, and continuing care to support the transition back to independent living. We know that recovery is possible for anyone who desires it and are committed to helping every client who walks through our doors take the first steps towards a brighter future.
