High-Functioning Addiction: Signs, Risks & Why It Often Goes Untreated
Addiction is complex. Someone suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) doesn’t always openly show signs. They may be able to continue their daily lives seemingly normally, perhaps even doing impressive things. All the while, in the background, they are regularly using substances, and their physical and mental health is deteriorating.
This is known as high-functioning addiction, and it’s common. In fact, between 9 and 13% of business executives are believed to have an SUD [1]. But you don’t have to be in a senior role to be a high-functioning addict.
Here’s what high-functioning addiction is, why it goes untreated, and how to get help.
What Is High-Functioning Addiction?
High-functioning addiction is used to describe people who have an addiction to a substance but appear to have control over their day-to-day functioning. They continue their responsibilities, meet deadlines, and are often adept at social interactions.
High-functioning addicts commonly abuse alcohol and substances such as cocaine. For some people, substances are the crutch that enables them to carry out their work and duties. For others, trying to hide substance use drives them to keep a consistent facade that everything is fine.
Any addiction is harmful and requires medical treatment. High-functioning addiction is particularly dangerous because of the cumulative toll it takes. A person can quickly exhaust themselves or exacerbate the symptoms of addiction by not addressing the problem and spending lots of energy keeping up pretenses.
In most cases of high-functioning addiction, the person ultimately ‘crashes,’ and the veil of calm and success is stripped away.
What Are Signs of High-Functioning Addiction?
High-functioning addiction is difficult to detect. The signs are subtle and typically only get noticed once they’ve surfaced a number of times. Knowing them can assist with early recognition of an addiction and result in the person seeking help sooner.
Signs include:
| Signs of You Being A High-Functioning Addict | Signs of Someone Else Being a High-Functioning Addiction |
|---|---|
| Increasing tolerance: Needing larger doses, more frequently, to achieve the same effects as previously. | Worsening health: Seeing the person is repeatedly unwell, for example, with constant flu-like symptoms. |
| Putting success before health: Using substances to help you achieve despite knowing that it’s negatively impacting your health. | Socializing with new people: The person suddenly has new peers, perhaps ones you know are involved in substance use. |
| Avoiding topics: Changing the conversation or leaving when topics related to addiction or substance use come up. | Defensiveness: The person behaves annoyed or abrasive when you try to talk to them about addiction. |
| Isolating: Cutting people out of your life if they start to question your habits. Avoiding friends or work colleagues to engage in substance use or avoid detection. | Over-justification: The person has a list of far-fetched excuses in response to your concerns. |
| Hiding financial changes: Continuing to spend despite debt or losses due to alcohol or drug consumption. | Odd behavior: The person may disappear for long periods of time at social events. They may twitch or have a tic that wasn’t there before. |
Is High-Functioning Addiction Dangerous?
Yes, high-functioning addiction can be dangerous. It brings the physical and psychological effects of the substance and dependency, but also the added stress of hiding the addiction and trying to continue life as normal. In short, it’s the perfect storm that drains a person and makes them vulnerable to a range of health risks.
The possible serious consequences of high-functioning addiction include:
- Mental health disorders
- Heart conditions
- Lung disease
- Cancer
High-functioning addiction is not sustainable. Eventually, the person won’t be able to compartmentalize their addiction and their facade of coping. This may manifest as a breakdown or serious health problems. The sooner someone can recognize the short-term nature of high-functioning addiction, the likelier they are to seek help and start to heal.
Why Does High-Functioning Addiction Go Untreated?
High-functioning addiction is easy to miss for both the person suffering from it and those around them.
The high-functioning person may genuinely not know, or be in deep denial, about having an addiction. They may tell themselves that the substance use is temporary or is necessary to complete what they need to do. They may rationalize that if they were addicted, they wouldn’t be able to function as they are.
On the other hand, family and friends won’t notice addiction is present if the person is skilled at hiding symptoms. They may want to celebrate the person and support them through stress, rather than make an accusation they don’t have solid proof for.
There is, unfortunately, a stereotype of what addiction looks like. Many people assume that the person will always look unwell, that they’ll have no money, and that they’ll constantly be talking about or trying to find substances. This image is not the full picture. Addiction shows up differently for different people.
Treatment for High-Functioning Addiction
Treatment for high-functioning addiction is available and effective. Care includes detox programs, inpatient and outpatient programs, and aftercare services. Each level integrates evidence-based therapies that address the root cause of addiction, identify triggers, and reframe thoughts and behaviors that facilitate addiction.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is another part of treatment. It involves using FDA-approved drugs to alleviate cravings and withdrawal symptoms in severe cases.
Residential programs are especially helpful for high-functioning addiction, as people stay overnight at health facilities while undergoing treatment. The detachment from work and responsibilities means they have to confront addiction. Attendees in these programs are monitored 24/7 and are supported to develop skills that can change their relationship with stress and performance. They learn coping mechanisms that help them reach their potential without turning to substance use.
High-functioning addiction is still an addiction. Treatment is a necessary step toward recovery and toward a higher quality of living.
Overcome Addiction at Renu Healthcare, Costa Mesa
We believe that it’s possible to restore balance in the mind, body, and nervous system. Our detox and residential programs offer a secure, alcohol-free, and substance-free setting during some of the toughest stages of recovery. We also have Medication-Assisted Treatment to manage cravings and lower withdrawal pain if required.
We have a comfort-first philosophy, providing discreet care from our center in Costa Mesa to make detox as seamless as possible. Our residences are spacious and designed to promote calm as you work through treatment.
We believe expertise and empathy help most people to successfully pass through the detox phase and onward on their recovery path.
No one is alone. We’re here to support you in making a lasting, healthy difference.
Sources
[1] Psychology Today. (August 2023). Drinking in the C-Suite. psychologytoday.com.