Signs Your Supervisor Might Be Under the Influence: Recognizing Potential Symptoms

Identifying Drug Use in the Workplace: Recognizing Signs of Cocaine Abuse in Your Boss

, and Administrator

2025 May 24 . 12:10 AM

2 min read

by Leon Berent

Signs Your Supervisor Might Be Abusing Cocaine: Identifying Potential Signs in the Workplace - Signs Your Supervisor Might Be Under the Influence: Recognizing Potential Symptoms

So, your damn boss is nodding off like a junkie at a rave, huh? Understandably, it's tough to tell if your foreman's fingertips are stained with the residue of a weekend cocaine binge or if he's just pulled an all-nighter. Truth be told, bosses who are hooked on drugs often slip right under the radar. But, given the potential dangers they pose to the workplace, here's how to put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and pick up on some telltale signs.

Clear Indicators of Drug Use

Emotional Tumult: It's not uncommon for drug-using bosses to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality. One minute, they're beaming like a kid on Christmas morning; the next, they're snapping at you for no reason.
Loss of Enthusiasm: If you've noticed your boss's zest for work has fizzled faster than a popsicle in the sun, it might be a sign of drug use. Drug abuse often leads to a lack of motivation and interest in work.
Absenteeism: If your boss starts clocking more days off than a surfer in Bali, it could be a red flag. Drug use often leads to increased instances of tardiness and absences.
Miscommunication: If your boss's emails are filled with typos, or they're more cryptic than Hieroglyphics, it could be because their cognitive functions are impaired by drugs.
Physical Signs: It's hard to miss a boss whose eyes are redder than a Christmas stocking or whose speech is slurred like a senior with a mouth full of marbles. Unexplained weight fluctuations, shaking, and unusual odors can also be a giveaway.
Performance Decay: If your boss's productivity has plummeted faster than the stock market in 2008, it could indicate drug use. Drug abuse often leads to an increase in mistakes, poor decision-making, and difficulty concentrating.
Social Distancing: If your boss seems to be avoiding social interactions as if they got bitten by a zombie, it could be a sign of drug use. Isolation and increased conflicts or aggressive behavior are common effects of substance abuse.

Dealing with a Drug-Using Boss

Find Support: Speak to HR or consider using an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if available. These services can provide guidance and support in dealing with substance abuse issues.
Maintain Confidentiality: Approach the situation with discretion, ensuring any discussions or actions are kept under wraps.
Focus on Workplace Impact: Instead of delivering a sermon about personal morality, focus on how the observed behavior affects work performance and safety.
Encourage Help: Offer support to your boss in seeking professional help if they're open to addressing the issue.

Remember, it's crucial to handle the situation with empathy and understanding while ensuring the safety and well-being of the workplace.

The Commission, in its initiative to safeguard workers, has also adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the health-and-wellness sector. Mental health, being a critical aspect of overall well-being, is intimately linked to the impact of substance abuse in the workplace. Therapies and treatments for mental health disorders can potentially alleviate some of the symptoms displayed by drug-using bosses, contributing to a healthier and more productive work environment.