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Helping Executives and Business Owners Remove Barriers to Treatment

Just take a peek at the calendar of a high-level professional to get an immediate understanding of just one of the barriers to addiction treatment—time. Day in and day out people who have achieved a certain level of career success grapple with the constant shortage of time in their chaotic workdays. Even those who will admit they need help with an alcohol or drug problem feel hamstrung to take the first step, feeling there is simply no room in their schedule.

The needs of an executive to obtain treatment for an addiction, and the postponing of it due to their hectic schedule, becomes a vicious circle that, in the long run, creates a much more urgent situation as the addiction becomes more pronounced. The truth is, the professional can’t afford not to carve out some time to begin recovery. Addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that eventually holds the victim captive and has the potential to destroy everything the successful individual has worked so hard to achieve.

Common Barriers to Addiction Treatment for Busy Professionals

●Denial. When it comes to drug or alcohol addiction, high-level executives are no different from anyone else struggling with addiction. Nearly all will initially play the game of denial, even when the evidence of fallout from the substance abuse is clearly visible to the contrary. No one wants to admit that they might have a problem with a substance, as many see admitting it as a weakness. The earlier signs of trouble can easily be written off as caused by stress, lack of sleep, or spinning too many plates at work. In fact, the substance itself may be used by someone in a high position to help them manage the pressures they face on a daily basis. Tolerance to the substance increases over time and the level of consumption increases with it. The executive may be a bit concerned about how much they are leaning on the substance and may begin to connect the dots between level of use and how crummy they feel, but still resist the idea that they have a problem.

●Reputation. There remains, unfortunately, a social stigma attached to those who seek treatment for a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder. This perceived stigma presents a significant barrier for those individuals who have a public, front-facing career presence or a position of status. These people may have curated and cultivated a sterling reputation in their field and feel that addiction treatment, should it be revealed, could tarnish it. The assumption that people would then view them as reckless, incapable, or undependable keeps many people in dire need of treatment away. This worry about privacy and discretion is understandable in this current digital landscape we all live in, but it should not deter someone from seeking needed treatment. Federal laws are in place to protect privacy.

●Time. These days, executives in the business world, or self-employed business owners, may take on huge levels of responsibility at work. This is a sign of the times, when executives may have to remain engaged at work even on weekends, evenings, and vacations. The absence of any laxity in the weekly work schedule makes the idea of removing oneself for an extended period to go to rehab unthinkable. Some business owners may be intimately involved in daily operations and simply cannot leave for a lengthy period, and many professionals are responsible for heading up huge projects with dozens of people reporting to them. Worries of a negative impact on a business or potentially risking job security loom large over the professional in need of treatment.

Solutions to Overcome those Barriers

A niche has been created within the addiction recovery field that caters to executives with these valid concerns and limitations. Executive detox and rehab programs have made special accommodations for the needs of the busy professional in need of treatment that also addresses these concerns. The executive treatment programs differ from traditional programs in the following ways:

●Most executive programs are situated in remote, secluded locations, allowing for an enhanced level of privacy and discretion.

●Executive programs feature efficient scheduling for delivering treatment services in a tight time frame to accommodate the lack of time available for treatment.

●Executive programs offer flexibility in programing to accommodate the need to use electronic devices for staying connected and engaged at work.

●If inpatient rehab is not feasible, the executive medically monitored detox program can be completed within a week at a facility, and outpatient therapy following detox can be prescribed according to the needs of the client.

If time is at a premium and doesn’t allow for an inpatient rehabilitation program, the next best option is an executive detox and subsequent outpatient therapy that can be scheduled around the demands of a job. It is important to follow detoxification with active treatment that will help change the addictive behavioral responses as well as help identify any underlying factors, such as unprocessed trauma, emotional pain, or a co-occurring mental health condition.

What to Anticipate in an Executive Detoxification Program

The first step in recovery is detoxification, or the process by which the body purges any residual toxins associated with the substance from bodily tissues and the bloodstream. Depending on the severity of the addiction, detox and withdrawal can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable. Withdrawal symptoms can often be unpredictable, which is why it is never advisable to attempt to detox alone.

For this reason, a medically monitored detox is the preferred method for this important first step in the recovery journey. During the executive detox, trained detox specialists will monitor vital signs and withdrawal symptoms for the duration of the process and will offer medical interventions to manage or alleviate the symptoms. Clinicians will counsel you for your next step in recovery, the treatment phase, and together a plan can be made while you are still at the detox center.

An executive detox program will feature high-end luxury private rooms, spa-like amenities, amino acid therapy for alcoholism and drug addiction, and a beautiful, scenic location. The clinical staff and detox professionals are dedicated to making the detox experience as comfortable as possible and will provide emotional support as you continue your path to recovery.

About the Author

John T. Kahal is the founder and C.E.O. of Executive 7 Day Detox, a comprehensive addiction and dual diagnosis treatment program located in South Orange County, California. After his own successful experience with the recovery process and journey, Kahal decided to create a unique program that was individualized for each client’s specific needs. Kahal’s passion to share his own positive experience with others, while being a living example of the freedom found in recovery, is what motivates him to guide clients toward their own stable, long-term recovery.