Although alcohol consumption has decreased in Finland, its harmful effects on working and civil life have not disappeared. The problem of alcoholism is no stranger to the construction industry. Kimmo Anttonen, Regional Manager of the Building Construction Industry Eastern Finland District reminds us that some substance abuse problems are hidden, making them difficult to address. Anttonen is concerned about the phenomenon and therefore talks about his own long-term latent alcoholism and how he overcame it.
Alcohol plays a significant role in traffic fatalities and injuries. The same applies to drownings in waterways. Alcohol and other intoxicants directly or indirectly cause thousands of premature deaths each year. When their total economic losses include absenteeism and accidents at work, reduced work capacity with errors, and premature sick leave, the adverse costs rise to billions of euros – not to mention human suffering.
When some substance abuse problems are hidden, they are not initially recognized by the person concerned or their colleagues. This makes it more difficult to address the problem in the workplace through referral to treatment, which is also required by law.
Regional manager of the Eastern Finland district of the building construction industry Kimmo Anttonen He says, referring to his observations and personal experiences, that the reputation of the construction industry as a "damp" industry is not unfounded, although the situation has improved in recent decades. People no longer come to construction sites drunk or in a lot of "after-effects", and if there is any suspicion of this, the work supervisor intervenes.
"Yet, the saying 'hard work requires hard play' is still heard, even though physically demanding work should actually be countered by increasing rest and moderate recovery. After a hard weekend of alcohol-fueled partying or a heavy holiday drinking spree, your work performance is not at its best."
"'Sick days' and sick leave due to alcohol problems affect all levels of personnel, from employees to white-collar workers, managers and directors. The phenomenon should not be ignored, let alone accepted as a 'house or industry custom'. This is false solidarity from colleagues, which only delays and makes it more difficult for those suffering from a substance abuse problem and their loved ones to get help and change for the better," emphasizes Anttonen.
Personal experience with latent alcoholism
He admits that he himself suffered from a latent substance abuse problem. "My problem worsened into alcoholism, even though I was doing my job and was not absent from work at all. I did not receive a warning from my employer and did not even have to go through an interview, but the latent alcoholism began to have a detrimental effect on my ability to cope at work. The good physical condition brought by my sports hobby hid a problem that had lasted for 15 years and gradually worsened, which of course my loved ones noticed."
"My behavior began to become more negative, which was reflected in things like unpredictability and short-sightedness. I began to like being drunk, meaning my alcoholism progressed while my tolerance for drugs increased. Difficulties in relationships and other relationships increased. I began to have sleep disorders and I became increasingly addicted to alcohol," says Anttonen.
He finally realized the problem himself after receiving a fine for minor assault in civilian life while under the influence of alcohol.
“I immediately jumped into the deep end, or rather, I went to an AA club and started: ‘I’m Kimmo and an alcoholic.’ That’s when I started to sober up, when I admitted my problem. I realized that my relationship with alcohol has never been balanced, but rather too much of a binge drinker since my teenage years.”
Open-access treatment is one path to sobriety
Avominne treatment, founded twenty years ago, specializes in the treatment and education of substance abusers in working life. The clinic was founded by Mika Arramies was an alcoholic himself until Minnesota rehab got him sober. It took a long time to recover from alcoholism, stress, and fatigue.
Mika Arramies developed an outpatient treatment concept adapted to Finland from Minnesota treatment, which offers substance abuse treatment tailored to working life and the needs of clients using a 12-step program. He emphasizes early intervention in substance abuse problems and their identification in the workplace. There are also good experiences with Avominne treatment for other addictions, such as quitting gambling.
Arramies reminds us that alcoholism is a progressive central nervous system disease, the onset of which is significantly influenced by genetics. Treatment is available at Avominne clinics and remotely. Recovery is ensured by approximately one year of follow-up treatment. Many Avominne caregivers have their own alcoholism as a background.
Early intervention is important
Kimmo Anttonen also encourages companies' occupational health services and substance abuse contact persons to intervene more actively and early enough in budding alcohol and drug problems before they become more difficult to treat.
The construction industry has a three-level substance abuse rehabilitation model, which starts with the employer's referral to treatment through occupational health care. The next stage can be, for example, a more intensive treatment path from the A-clinic Foundation or Avominne. The third stage is a local AA club, which those with alcohol problems should join. There, you can find, among other things, good daily peer support and expert help to continue the recovery process with the 12-step program and to prevent relapses.
"Alcoholism is not curable, but one day at a time you can go without drinking. It took me about a year in AA to understand my illness and what it takes to overcome it and achieve daily sobriety. An alcoholic has no middle ground, or so-called moderation, for drinking. An alcoholic controls their drinking only by not drinking. That's why I don't drink alcohol at all, not even a single alcoholic sauna beer. I sometimes drink non-alcoholic beer."
Your senses become more sensitive when sober and your stamina improves.e
"I wasn't discriminated against or labeled as a weirdo by my friends and acquaintances because of my change. Some people have come to me to ask for advice on the path to sobriety. When I'm sober, I can sense things in my environment more sensitively and I cope better at work and in other everyday life. My relationships have also improved," says Anttonen.
He reminds us that a good way to stay sober is to find substitutes that bring pleasure and meaning. Being with family, hobbies, good communities and circles of friends, and even peer support for those still suffering from alcoholism are effective tips.
Text: Ilpo Lommi