Anonymity on the Job; Should I Tell My Boss I’m in Recovery?

"To tell or not to tell; that is the question." "Hhhmmm... What will they think of me if I tell them I'm in recovery?" Of course it depends on your circumstances, but in general, I'd avoid taking the offensive when it comes to exposing your recovery in the workplace. Let your recovery speak for itself at the office. My prediction is that your boss and co-workers will notice positive changes in your attitude and productivity at work - and that's a good thing! That speaks volumes!!!
If it comes up and someone asks you directly, be honest. Tell them what your doing about your problem and how it's working for you. Avoid going back over how bad things got for you; or still may be. By being honest, you may find an opportunity to help a co-worker that may be "riding the fence" with their own addiction issues; or perhaps inspire them to help a loved one.
Above all, maintain a professional standard in the workplace. At the end of the day you should be judged on your work performance and not your personal life outside of the office.
If someone wants to know more, then that's up to you and how close you are with the individual. Perhaps you could discuss it further over lunch, after work, or invite them to an open meeting. That may also reveal if your co-worker is truly interested in recovery or just being nosey.
Having said that, there are a couple of circumstances where it would be beneficial to tell your boss.
First of all, if you have decided to seek help for your problem and, let's say, are going off to a treatment center, it's probably best not to lie about it. In other words, I wouldn't tell your boss that you're being treated for appendicitis when that's not the case.
It is possible to be honest with your boss without going into all of the gory details. If you are honest about needing a legitimate medical leave, your boss will be better able to support you and maintain business operations in your absence if you simply tell the truth. At the very least, by being honest, you will know where you stand at work and be better able to concentrate on getting better while away from work.
Secondly, if you know your employer or one of your co-workers are in recovery, you should find an appropriate time to make that connection. Having that built in network at the office will prove to be an invaluable tool.
I feel very fortunate to work with others in recovery. My boss and co- workers teach me many things about myself and help me grow daily in my recovery.

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