{"id":2624,"date":"2026-04-28T06:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/?p=2624"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:13:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:13:43","slug":"what-to-do-if-coworker-is-using","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/what-to-do-if-coworker-is-using\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do If Coworker Is Using"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/\">By SalaryFor.com &#8211; real salaries for all professions<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking into the office and sensing that something is &#8220;off&#8221; with a teammate is an incredibly uncomfortable position to be in. Whether it\u2019s the smell of alcohol on their breath at 10:00 AM or a sudden, drastic change in temperament and physique that suggests performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), the internal conflict is real: <em>Do I say something, or is it none of my business?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2026, workplace wellness and mental health are higher priorities than ever, but substance use remains a complex challenge. Here is a guide on how to handle this situation with professionalism, safety, and empathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Document the &#8220;What,&#8221; Not the &#8220;Why&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is not your job to be a doctor or a substance abuse counselor. You shouldn&#8217;t try to diagnose a coworker with &#8220;steroid rage&#8221; or &#8220;alcoholism.&#8221; Instead, focus on <strong>observable behaviors<\/strong> that affect the work environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Keep a private log of specific incidents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Performance:<\/strong> Missed deadlines, erratic work quality, or sudden &#8220;disappearing acts.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Behavior:<\/strong> Unusual aggression, extreme mood swings, or slurred speech.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Physical Indicators:<\/strong> The smell of alcohol, glassy eyes, or\u2014in the case of steroids\u2014unexplained physical changes paired with hyper-irritability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Check Your Company\u2019s Policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before taking action, consult your Employee Handbook. Most modern companies have a <strong>Drug-Free Workplace Policy<\/strong> or an <strong>Employee Assistance Program (EAP)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The EAP is your best friend here.<\/strong> It\u2019s designed to help employees get treatment rather than just getting them fired. Knowing these resources exist can make you feel better about reporting a concern, as it might lead to your coworker getting the help they actually need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The &#8220;Peer-to-Peer&#8221; Temperature Check<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a good relationship with the person and their behavior isn&#8217;t immediately dangerous, a gentle, private conversation can sometimes be the first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>What to say:<\/strong> <em>&#8220;Hey [Name], I\u2019ve noticed you\u2019ve seemed really stressed\/irritable lately and it&#8217;s unlike you. Is everything okay? I&#8217;m worried about you.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Crucial Note:<\/strong> If you suspect they are currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs while performing safety-sensitive tasks (driving, operating machinery, or medical care), <strong>skip the private chat and go straight to a supervisor.<\/strong> Safety trumps social comfort every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Reporting to HR or Management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the behavior persists or creates a hostile environment, it\u2019s time to involve the professionals. When you meet with HR or your manager:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be Objective:<\/strong> Use your notes. Instead of saying, &#8220;I think he\u2019s on steroids,&#8221; say, &#8220;I\u2019ve noticed [Name] has become increasingly aggressive toward the team and has had three outbursts in meetings this week.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on Impact:<\/strong> Explain how it\u2019s affecting the team\u2019s productivity or your ability to do your job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Request Confidentiality:<\/strong> Ask how your report will be handled to protect yourself from potential retaliation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Red Flags to Watch For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Substance Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Common Behavioral Signs<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Alcohol<\/strong><\/td><td>Slurred speech, frequent &#8220;sickness&#8221; on Mondays, smell of alcohol\/heavy perfume.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Steroids \/ PEDs<\/strong><\/td><td>Extreme &#8220;road rage&#8221; in the office, sudden muscle gain, severe acne, manic energy.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Stimulants<\/strong><\/td><td>Rapid speech, paranoia, staying late but getting very little done, jitteriness.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What NOT to Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t Gossip:<\/strong> Sharing your suspicions with other coworkers creates a toxic environment and could lead to a defamation claim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t Enable:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t &#8220;cover&#8221; for them by finishing their reports or making excuses for their absence. You aren&#8217;t helping them; you&#8217;re allowing the problem to worsen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t Search Their Desk:<\/strong> Never attempt to find &#8220;proof&#8221; yourself. Leave the investigation to HR or security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Suspecting a coworker of substance use is heavy. While you might feel like a &#8220;snitch,&#8221; remember that many substances\u2014including alcohol and high-dose steroids\u2014can lead to serious health crises or workplace accidents. Reporting your concerns isn&#8217;t just about protecting the company; it might be the catalyst that gets your colleague the professional intervention they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/\">click here for more salary information<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By  &#8211; real salaries for all professions Walking into the office and sensing that something is &#8220;off&#8221; with a teammate is an incredibly uncomfortable position to be in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4307],"class_list":["post-2624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-on-the-job-advice","tag-substance-abuse-at-work"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2624"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2739,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624\/revisions\/2739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}