Productivity is a popular word in our day. With competition between companies, positions in the workplace that have limited slots, and sayings like “the early bird gets the worm,” our world has a high incentive to be productive.
Many great ways to increase productivity involve helpful strategies like weekly planning, utilizing technology to save time, training others, and collaboration. However, in the name of productivity, people often turn to a risky option: productivity drugs. Here’s what they are and why they are dangerous for fostering true productivity.
On the Fields of Battle and Sports
Performance-enhancing drugs are not limited to discussions about baseball players who tested positive for steroids. In fact, performance-enhancing drugs have a surprising history in the form of amphetamine drugs like Benzedrine, used during the world Olympics in Berlin in 1936. Back then, amphetamines were used not only to give athletes the cutting edge on sports fields but also to give soldiers the cutting edge on battlefields.
Both sides of the conflict of World War II gave their soldiers a steady supply of amphetamine. This was intended to help maintain high levels of awareness, focus, and energy during the physical and emotional demands of battle, often with inadequate sleep and food. While amphetamine may sound like an unfamiliar or outdated drug, it turns out that this drug, though in different forms, is just as common today as a performance enhancer.
Productivity?
Today, amphetamine is sold under several brand names, the most popular being Adderall. Many people are aware of this stimulant drug because it is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and some sleep disorders. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a 2020 national survey report on drug use, stating that adults between 18 to 25 years old represent the highest demographic of abuse related to prescription stimulant drugs like Adderall.
These drugs are often called “study drugs” because college students use them to cram for tests, stay up all night, and remain highly alert with little sleep or food, just like the soldiers on the battlefield. However, many college-age people will start their professional careers with developed amphetamine addiction. Consequently, the habit of using these drugs to boost their productivity at school carries over into their working career. This comes with a large set of risks that could destroy productivity.
First, ongoing use of amphetamines like Adderall can lead to health problems. Even though these drugs curb the immediate feelings of fatigue and hunger, the lack of poor sleep and poor nutrition eventually catches up with our bodies. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against ongoing Adderall use on the drug label, stating these drugs have a high potential for abuse, especially when used for prolonged periods.
What’s more, there is a warning of sudden death and life-threatening heart problems if people misuse these drugs. With nearly 10 percent of working adults having substance abuse issues and 20 percent of workplace fatalities involving drugs, the threat of drug use in the name of productivity is a recipe for disaster. It is not a sustainable method for true productivity, and it can put us and those we work with at unnecessary risk.
Recovery Is Productive
Of course, the problem with amphetamine and other drugs with a high potential for abuse and dependency is exactly that—they are addictive. This means it is not simply a matter of stopping the use of any particular substance. In fact, trying to quit Adderall cold turkey or other drugs like it can be dangerous, depending on the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal can be highly intensified for people who use illicit Adderall that might be cut with other drugs that are much more life-threatening when stopped cold turkey. Because of this, it is worth looking into whether your workplace has an employee benefit plan for substance abuse.
Many companies are doing this because it is a helpful way to ensure personal and corporate productivity in the long run. Further, this helps companies maintain a financial investment in the employees they’ve already hired and trained while promoting awareness of important issues such as substance abuse.
About Author
This article was written by Kevin Morris from Delphi Behavioral Health Group, a dedicated family of facilities committed to offering individualized treatment for all levels of addiction working to treat it at its core to provide those who are struggling with the tools to start a journey of long-lasting recovery.