BENGALURU: A weekend drink to unwind. Cigarette breaks while at work. A pill to stay focused through the night, chasing deadlines.For a growing number of Bengaluru professionals, what begins as an occasional coping mechanism is quietly turning into dependence, as relentless work pressure, long hours and inability to switch off push many towards alcohol, nicotine, and then to prescription medication and recreational drugs, mental health experts say.A 36-year-old senior IT manager started drinking only on weekends to cope with mounting workplace stress. As deadlines intensified, weekend drinking became a daily habit. Through friends, he was introduced to recreational drugs, that he said helped him “switch off”.Despite continuing to perform well at work, years of burnout, poor sleep and emotional exhaustion eventually led to dependence. He sought treatment only after his family noticed changes in his behaviour.According to Dr Jayant Mahadevan, assistant professor at NIMHANS’ Centre for Addiction Medicine, substance use often starts as a social activity, but gradually becomes a way to cope with stress.“Not everyone who uses substances becomes addicted, but repeated use to manage stress increases the risk,” he clarified. He noted that nearly half of nicotine users may develop dependence, compared with around 20-25% of alcohol and cannabis users. Starting at a younger age only raises the risk.
OTC solutions the new concern: doctor
From recreation to reliance
Many professionals fail to recognise when occasional use crosses into dependence, said Neha Cadabam, senior psychologist and executive director, Cadabam’s Hospitals.“People often say they started smoking because colleagues did, or that they need alcohol to unwind after work or fall asleep. Over time, those habits become difficult to break,” she said.She added that use of party drugs such as MDMA and ‘ecstasy’ has also risen in Bengaluru, although the trend cannot be attributed solely to workplace stress.
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Always ‘on’
The pressures of Bengaluru’s work culture are playing a significant role.“In IT, startups and creative industries, long hours, poor sleep, lengthy commute and constant work demands leave many emotionally exhausted,” said Dr Divya G Nallur, clinical director and senior consultant psychiatrist at Amaha.She said client-facing professions often normalise drinking, allowing social alcohol use to gradually become habitual. Interestingly, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among working professionals.Cadabam added that the return to office has intensified stress for many employees. “Bengaluru’s traffic, fears of layoffs, and rising workloads have created chronic stress. Even outside work, people are constantly overstimulated and rarely switch off,” she said.
Seeking help late
Experts said that most people seek treatment only after substance use begins affecting their professional performance, personal relationships or, in caseof illicit drugs, results in legal issues.While men continue to account for most people seeking treatment, experts say more women are now approaching mental health experts, reflecting greater awareness and willingness to seek help.Treatment typically involves a combination of medication and counselling, along with identifying the underlying reasons for substance use.Contrary to common belief that de-addiction treatment requires admission to rehab centres, around 80-90% of patients recover through outpatient (OPD) treatment, said Dr Mahadevan.“What is important is persistence. If one seeks help from a mental health practitioner or addiction specialist at the right time and remains regular with treatment, it is one of the best ways for most people to recover,” he said.
