New research has found a concerning rise in addiction in the workplace, with just over 1 in 3 employees surveyed (34%) admitting to either using or witnessing substance use or addictive behaviours during work hours.

The study, which surveyed 1,503 employees and 1500 employers, revealed that more than half of UK employees surveyed (57%) have struggled with some form of addiction, including alcohol (15%), gambling (14%), and recreational drugs (7%). Others report addictions to social media, prescription medication, and cryptocurrency trading.

The findings come as national addiction treatment figures show a significant rise in people seeking support. Between April 2023 and March 2024, more than 310,000 adults were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services – a 7% increase on the previous year, and the highest number since 2009.

For those who have battled addiction, stress is reported to be a major driver, as almost half of employees surveyed (48%) say they’ve turned to addictive behaviours as a way to cope with professional stress, while 46% cite work-related pressure as a contributing factor. For 2 in 5 (40%), it’s the workplace culture itself that plays a role in fuelling these behaviours.

However, despite the significant number of workers facing addiction, stigma remains a significant barrier to support. Almost half of employees (45%) would rather hide an addiction than discuss it at work and 43% have avoided medical or professional support altogether due to fear of workplace repercussions.

Dom McGregor, Co-Founder of the Social Chain and Author of ‘I’m Never Drinking Again’, said: ““Coping with addiction in the workplace can be really difficult and there is certainly a stigma around admitting you’re struggling and seeking help. Work drinks, networking events and team building exercises are often centred around getting drunk together and this kind of culture can really expedite addiction problems.

“This was something I experienced myself. In my early twenties, while building my first company – a fast-growing business that thrived on energy, hustle, and relentless networking – I found myself trapped in a cycle of alcohol dependency. Drinking wasn’t just accepted; it was expected. It masked anxiety, burnout, and imposter syndrome, and it became the tool I used to keep up the facade of success. I was on a journey of self-sabotage, destroying myself, my career, my life, my relationships, for alcohol. At 22 years old, you don’t think that alcohol is a problem because it’s so ingrained in society. It’s a very normalised thing for people to do, to go out and get drunk.

“It wasn’t until someone close to me had the courage to tell me that I should stop drinking – that I could change my life – that I even considered it was possible. That moment was a catalyst. Over the last few years, cultures have definitely changed. There is more understanding around addiction and the impact this can have. Businesses now place much more focus on fostering a healthy workforce, and conversations around mental health and substance misuse are finally breaking through the stigma.

“I’m so grateful I was able to seek help when I did. It certainly changed my life and I hope others who are struggling can be empowered to access the support they need.”

The business impact of this is also concerning. Nearly half (49% ) of employers surveyed report noticing an increase in addiction-related issues among their workforce in the past year alone. As a result, employers report performance issues (44%) and higher levels of absenteeism (33%). Similar to employees, a significant proportion of business leaders attribute the increase in addiction-related behaviours to mental health challenges (42%) and personal difficulties (42%).

Dr Robin Clark, Medical Director at Bupa UK Insurance said: “It’s clear that addiction is a taboo topic in the workplace, this is often due to the stigma, lack of understanding and the fear of repercussions at work. However, both employees and employers see the impact addiction has on the individual and on the business as a whole. “In the last five years at Bupa we’ve had over 26,000 claims related to different addictions which shows how prevalent the issue is.

“While businesses acknowledge the growing scale of the issue, it’s important they create a culture where people can feel supported and comfortable opening up about what they’re going through and have access confidential services to help them get treatment when they need it. If they don’t, they run the risk of not being able retain valuable talent.”

• 34% of employees surveyed report having used or witnessed substance use or addictive behaviours during work hours.
• Nearly 6 in 10 employees (57%) admit to having struggled with some form of addiction including alcohol (15%), gambling (14%), and recreational drugs (7%).
• 71% of employers report being concerned about addiction-related issues in the workplace.
• Almost half (48% ) of employees say they’ve turned to addictive behaviours to cope with workplace stress.
• 51% believe stigma prevents people from seeking help at work.

*Study from by Bupa