It takes strength to ask for help. Whether you’re looking for healthier ways to cope with stress, want to support someone in your life or need help right now, a wide variety of resources are available to help you navigate any situation.
Trades, Retail and Service Workers
Work stress adds up. Drugs won’t help.
For plenty of people who work in trades, retail or the service industry, long shifts, busy days and constant pressure are just part of the job. All that stress doesn’t stop when you clock out, and looking for relief is natural.
Drugs and alcohol might feel like a fix. In the long run and if used frequently, they’re likely to cause more issues that are tougher to manage. Explore resources that can help you find healthier ways to handle stress and support whenever you need it.
Substance Misuse Doesn’t Always Look the Same
Substance misuse can be complex. Many people drink alcohol in moderation or use prescription drugs to manage symptoms. When social or occasional substance use becomes a frequent outlet for stress, though, it can evolve into challenges that are tough to manage.
Understanding the risks and warning signs of substance misuse is the first step toward finding healthier solutions and supporting the people around you.
Support Starts with People
If you’re going through something, one of your strongest resources is the people closest to you. They can relate to you and know the best ways to show support.
Talking to someone who understands, whether it’s a friend, a coworker or someone who’s been through something similar, can make you feel less alone and more in control.
Find Help No Matter Where You Are
If you or someone you know needs help, treatment resources are available across South Dakota. From counseling to more intensive options, treatment can help uncover the cause of challenges you’re facing and understand the best ways to move forward.
Support & Resources for Substance Misuse
Secure Storage & Disposal
Get free materials for safe medication storage and disposal
988
Call, text or chat 24/7 for support with substance use or any other crisis
Start the Conversation
Find tips and conversation starters that can help you support a friend or coworker
How Employers Can Help
Careers in these industries involve risk factors for substance misuse. Some are ingrained in the nature of the work, or the culture that surrounds it: an employee might be prescribed opioids for pain relief after an injury on the job, and it’s common for teams to socialize and relieve stress by drinking alcohol.
Some risks can’t be avoided. What employers can — and should — do is prevent them from further impacting their team members’ health. By keeping employees informed about substance misuse, as well as resources for treatment and support, you can build an environment that protects the people who work there.
Get Tools to Protect Your Team
Start conversations about substance misuse, stop the stigma around getting help and spread the word about support resources.
Workforce Supported Recovery
Workplace Supported Recovery (WSR) is an approach that includes programs and training that can help you build a more supportive workplace. Established policies make it easier for everyone to understand your organization’s goals and how they can help achieve them.
The two main purposes of a WSR program are to prevent work factors that could lead to substance misuse and to make it easier for people who need help to find it. Putting one in place involves taking a close look at both formal and informal aspects of your environment: from working conditions, benefits and training programs to interpersonal conflicts and social norms.
Take the first step toward fostering a safer, more productive workplace.