Rachel thought she was 'taking the edge off' a stressful job. It became her darkest secret.

The first time Rachel* went to work high, she was desperate to feel something other than panic.

She'd spent months teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Workplace bullying had been building quietly for years, escalating from subtle undermining to outright cruelty. 

There were days she'd leave the office shaking, crawl into bed fully clothed, and cry until the sun went down. No one at work seemed to notice. Or if they did, they looked the other way.

"I didn't have the words for it at the time," Rachel recalled. "But I was absolutely having a nervous breakdown."

She felt anxious all the time, and uncharacteristically angry.

"I'm not someone who loses my temper. But I was losing it regularly. It was like I didn't care anymore," she said.

The turning point came one weekday morning as she sat on the edge of her bed, dreading the day ahead.

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"I just needed to take the edge off," she explained.

She decided to smoke cannabis and went to work stoned. She did it again the next day. And then again. And again.

Her colleagues didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

"I remember laughing with someone in the office about how no one could tell. And the truth was, I didn't care if they found out," she said. "If they fired me, I would've seen it as a mercy."

Looking back, she sees that period of drug use for exactly what it was: self-medication.

"I didn't care about the consequences. I was just trying to survive," she said.

But her drug habit wasn't sustainable.

Eventually, it all came to a head following a brutal run-in with her manager. Rachel called in sick the next day and booked an appointment with her GP.

"When I sat down in front of her and told her what had been going on, she didn't hesitate. She said, 'You're having a nervous breakdown.' She told me I needed to take two weeks off immediately. No contact with work. Just rest."

She took her referral and booked a therapy appointment, and slowly the fog began to clear. 

"That therapist said something I'll never forget. They said, 'If you don't resign, you're going to die.'

"Because of what the stress and risk-taking was doing to me."

So Rachel quit her job. And while her drug use didn't stop overnight, she was no longer using it to cope with work. 

"More common than people think."

Rachel isn't alone. Recent data shows that one in nine Australian workers have been under the influence of illicit drugs while at work.

In fact, drug use is now higher amongst employees than the general population — particularly in high-risk industries such as transport, construction, hospitality, and finance. This makes the workplace a critical, yet often overlooked, setting for early detection and support.

The most common drug used on the job is cannabis, followed by amphetamines and MDMA.

According to psychologist Phoebe Rogers, using drugs or being under the influence of drugs while at work is often linked to something deeper. 

"A person is more vulnerable to using substances at work if they're experiencing depression or anxiety, as well as fatigue or burnout," Rogers explained.

It's not just internal struggles that increase someone's vulnerability, she says. External pressures—like demanding workplace cultures — can also drive harmful coping behaviours.

"I would also look at factors of high workload, unsupportive culture, unrealistic expectations, and industries that encourage after-hours events where drug and alcohol use is common," she said. 

"Financial stress contributing to anxiety and depression can also impact this, driven by a need to perform.

"Stress and burnout deplete our ability to self-regulate and manage emotions," she says. "Our coping resources are worn down, as is willpower and impulse control."

The signs that someone is struggling aren't always obvious, but they're there if you know what to look for.

"Erratic moods, being late to work, inability to explain poor performance, hiding things, lying about their whereabouts," she said. "Often the more someone engages in drug use, the harder it can be to stop, and they risk losing their career and damaging their reputation."

Intervention is critical. But Rogers says it hinges on workplaces creating environments where people feel safe to speak up.

"We need to have more conversations about mental health in the workplace — talking about healthy coping mechanisms, reinforcing that sick leave is also for mental health," she said. "It's also about having straightforward, confidential and easy access to EAP counselling programs."

If you're concerned about a colleague, Rogers advises coming from a place of compassion, not confrontation.

"Come from a gentle place of worry and concern, and offer to talk. Don't push and prod, accuse, or blame," she explained. "Say something like, 'You don't seem yourself lately; let's catch up for a coffee.' Keep communication open. If things worsen, raise the matter again and remind them of the help that is available. Ultimately, support must be chosen."

To prevent substance misuse before it starts, workplaces need to invest in connection and culture. Rogers says the impact of a compassionate workplace culture can be life-changing.

"Start with creating a low-stress, supportive culture, where everyone feels connected, supported, and encouraged," she said.

And for leaders and managers, the advice is simple: check in, genuinely and often.

"Show genuine interest in your staff. Check in regularly."

This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any substance or service. If you are experiencing mental health challenges or substance misuse, speak with a qualified healthcare professional. For confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

*Name has been changed to protect identities.

Feature image: Getty.