Rehab for Bus Drivers, Taxi Drivers, & Boat Captains

As a transportation worker, always being alert is essential to protect the safety of yourself and others. If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, the importance of your duties may begin to blur. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a debilitating disease that can be detrimental to all aspects of life.

Addiction can impact your ability to effectively do your job, resulting in risky decisions and endangering your life and others.¹ You also risk losing your job or greatly impacting your business.¹ Addiction treatment for taxi drivers, bus drivers, and boat captains is available.

Deciding to seek treatment can initially bring up feelings of guilt or shame. But you are not alone. Rehab for bus drivers opens doors for support and assistance, so you can get back to your old self.

Substance Abuse in Bus Driver, Taxi Drivers, & Boat Captains

Driving can be stressful for anyone, especially if it’s your job. Transportation workers deal with stressful situations every day, like spending long hours on the road in highly congested areas while remaining alert to avoid accidents. Experiencing high levels of stress is a key factor in developing mental health disorders and SUDs.²

A 2015 survey found addiction in transportation providers to be relatively common, with about 9% of transportation workers reporting past year substance use disorder.³ Many participants also reported heavy alcohol or illicit drug use in the past year.³

Consequences of Substance Use in Transportation Workers

What starts as a way to destress after a long workday may quickly develop into a dangerous habit causing you to make poor decisions and risk the lives of others. Driving under the influence can lead to horrible consequences like traffic accidents, failed drug tests, license revocation, and legal problems.

Many public transportation companies require their workers to pass random drug tests. Failing a drug test can result in losing your job. Public records showed a rapid 143% increase in the number of failed drug tests among taxi drivers, highlighting a need for access to rehab for taxi drivers.⁴

You’ll be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) if you’re ever pulled over while under the influence. DUI laws vary based on your local government, but even a first-offense DUI can result in a mandatory ignition interlock installation.⁵ Reaching multiple offenses can result in serious consequences like license suspension or revocation and mandatory substance abuse assessment and treatment.⁵ You most likely won’t be able to continue working in transportation with multiple DUIs.

Addiction Treatment for Taxi Drivers, Bus Drivers, & Boat Captains

If you’re ready to seek addiction treatment, you can find inpatient or outpatient rehab for bus drivers to best accommodate your unique needs. Most treatment centers include addiction care like medical detox, therapy, and mental health services. You’ll receive evidence-based treatments to help you build healthy coping skills and achieve long-term recovery.⁶

Inpatient programs or residential rehabs offer safe, supportive spaces for you to live while in treatment. They last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, but some offer longer treatment times of 6 months up to 1 year.⁶ With outpatient programs, you can receive similar treatment to inpatient programs while living at home and still tending to your daily responsibilities.⁶

Rehab for taxi drivers may be different than rehab for boat captains. Everyone is unique, and no one treatment will work for all. You can develop an individualized treatment plan specifically addressing your needs. If you’re suffering from a “dual diagnosis,” or a mental health illness along with addiction, seek treatment in a mental health facility to address both issues in tandem and promote long-term recovery.⁷

Whichever treatment works best for you, be sure the provider you choose is in your network to avoid paying all costs for treatment out of pocket. If you don’t have insurance, there are other ways to pay for treatment such as loans, scholarships, and grants. Some programs also offer sliding scale options if you need assistance.

Public Transportation Addiction Treatment FAQs

Find Out If Your Insurance Plan Covers Addiction Treatment

American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help people—including bus drivers, taxi drivers, and boat captains—recover from alcohol and drug abuse and substance use disorders. To find out if your insurance covers treatment for you or your loved one at an AAC facility, click here or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also click here to find a rehab near me.