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Recovery Scotland is an information and referral support service. We do not operate a residential treatment facility or provide clinical treatment directly. We help employers, professionals and individuals understand drug and alcohol treatment options and, where appropriate, connect with suitable treatment providers.
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Recovery Scotland can help you understand available treatment pathways, discuss referral options and explain what a treatment provider may need before assessing suitability.
How Substance Abuse Can Impact The Workplace
Drug and alcohol use can affect a person’s health, relationships and daily responsibilities. In the workplace, substance use may also contribute to poor attendance, reduced productivity, safety concerns, strained relationships and difficulty completing normal duties.
Employers and HR teams often want to respond compassionately while also protecting colleagues, customers and the wider organisation. It can be difficult to know what to say, what support to offer and when professional treatment may be appropriate.
Recovery Scotland can help you understand the types of support that may be available, including GP advice, community services, outpatient support, private rehab providers, detox where clinically appropriate and aftercare. We do not make employment decisions or provide clinical treatment, but we can help you approach the conversation with care and discuss referral routes where suitable.
Any clinical assessment, admission decision, detox planning or treatment recommendation is made by the treatment provider. Employers should also follow their own HR policies, occupational health guidance and legal responsibilities when supporting an employee.
Professional Referral Support For Drug And Alcohol Treatment
Recovery Scotland can support professional referrals by helping you understand the person’s circumstances, the urgency of the situation and the type of treatment options that may be suitable. This may include discussing location, substance use, withdrawal risk, mental health needs, work responsibilities, family support and whether a residential or outpatient option may be appropriate.
Where a referral to a treatment provider is suitable, the provider will explain availability, pricing, assessment requirements and next steps. The provider is responsible for confirming suitability, completing any clinical assessment and making any admission decision.
Information shared during a referral should be handled sensitively and with appropriate consent. Supporting the employee with dignity, privacy and practical reassurance can make it easier for them to engage with treatment and return to a healthier routine.
Contact Recovery Scotland if you need guidance on how to approach drug or alcohol addiction concerns in the workplace.
We can help you understand treatment pathways, what questions to ask providers and how referral support may work. This can be useful where substance use has not been discussed openly before, or where an employer wants to respond in a practical and supportive way.
Some treatment providers may be registered with the relevant healthcare regulator and may offer clinical detox, therapy, residential accommodation or aftercare. These details should be confirmed directly with the provider before any referral or admission is agreed.
Contact Recovery Scotland for confidential guidance on professional referrals and treatment options. If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 999. For non-emergency medical advice in Scotland, contact NHS 24 on 111 or speak to a GP.
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: June 17, 2026
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.
Get Help Today
Knowing how to respond to drug or alcohol use in the workplace can be difficult, especially if this is a new situation for your organisation. Recovery Scotland can provide confidential guidance and referral support so you can understand suitable treatment options and next steps.