I suspect this is largely a FAANG tech-bro thing, the combination of generous pay and management by automata
Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
11–20 of 61 posts
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#12It's a statistically confirmed reality of substance abuse in our industry. I posit 2 factors. 1. You can readily do it while doing your job. If you're in a factory with both hands building the widget or on a roof nailing shingles. Your hands are too busy; but with IT? 1 hand on mouse, other hand on beer bottle. Sure construction workers aren't sober angels, but they aren't as inebriated as IT. 2. The inherent negativ…
>> If you're in a factory with both hands building the widget or on a roof nailing shingles There is a long history of construction workers on amphetamine, opioids or cocaine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31685308/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32677121/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700122/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35143279/ A job in construction is very challenging, both physically and mentally. Man…
You're arguing with a rather minor point of my post.
Most construction workers I know aren't working unless they have hit a joint. The point wasnt so much about whether blue collar are doing it, but rather the convenience and ease.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#13I hate the bar culture. I'm straight edge. I do not drink. Most people don't believe me. Going to bars where others are drinking is pointless.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#14It's a statistically confirmed reality of substance abuse in our industry. I posit 2 factors. 1. You can readily do it while doing your job. If you're in a factory with both hands building the widget or on a roof nailing shingles. Your hands are too busy; but with IT? 1 hand on mouse, other hand on beer bottle. Sure construction workers aren't sober angels, but they aren't as inebriated as IT. 2. The inherent negativ…
I think you may have fallen into the classic white-collar trap of thinking too little of your blue-collared working peers; they're perfectly capable of getting fucked up on the job. The difference tends to be that their mistakes can have direct human morbidity and mortality associated with them, and are often followed by a drug test.
Drinking on the job is a way of life in construction. Beers with lunch is basically a given. I grew up with a lot of family and members of my immediate community working these sorts of jobs. I didn't realize bringing a cooler full of beer to work wasn't the norm until I was much older.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#15In a multi-decade career I only actually observed drug use (Marihuna) once (difficult situation in the company and the fellow just didn't care anymore); not counting alcohol during festivities (neither counting coffee or nicotine). I suspected it multiple times though. The boss with the wide-eye super-intense stare and unnatural, not to say, crazy, enthusiasm -- was that cocaine? The co-worker first giddy, later unbearably mean -- was that bipolar disorder or waning anti-depressant? Who knows.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#16No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#17I have adhd and i take a (very small) dosage of a stimulant at times. It has quite bad side effects for me which is why I take so little.
I think the reason why it is an "open secret" is because it is not possible to be open about such handicaps. If i was open to my employer about my adhd I would have to fear losing my job, even though that is illegal. That is rule number one that was ingrained into me, never tell anyone about this condition. It's sad because being open would help deconstruct stigmas etc.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#18I hate the bar culture. I'm straight edge. I do not drink. Most people don't believe me. Going to bars where others are drinking is pointless.
Just go there and proselytize to people. They will stop inviting you then.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#19In a multi-decade career I only actually observed drug use (Marihuna) once (difficult situation in the company and the fellow just didn't care anymore); not counting alcohol during festivities (neither counting coffee or nicotine). I suspected it multiple times though. The boss with the wide-eye super-intense stare and unnatural, not to say, crazy, enthusiasm -- was that cocaine? The co-worker first giddy, later unbe…
Anti-depressants don't wane like that. They stay in your bloodstream at fairly steady levels all day.
Re: Ask HN: What’s the unspoken situation with substance abuse by tech workers?
#20It's so easy to start drinking everyday. You have these magical all-night coding sessions with just beer and music and you are getting so much work done. Then you wake up later and later, eventually waking up so late and only needing to wait a couple of hours before you can start drinking again. I was in a rut for a while, started staying up really late with absolutely incredible productivity and a feeling of not nee…
Thank you for this.
Honestly, your first line is enough. You can wake up later, you can start drinking earlier, or you can do both. I'm sure a lot of people do better with a more structured, social workday -- it's easier to not feel bad about something if you don't have to try to hide it.