Addiction Treatment for ILWU & PMA Members
Working on the waterfront is no joke. Long shifts, unpredictable schedules, high stakes, and a culture of “get it done” can push a lot of ILWU & PMA members toward alcohol or drugs just to cope.
Our program at Sober Partners is close enough to feel familiar—but far enough from the port to give you room to breathe. We understand the unique pressures of ILWU & PMA life and work with you to build a plan that respects your membership, benefits, and future.
Understanding Port & Maritime Pressures
Port work often means:
- Shift work that wrecks sleep
- Intense physical demands and injuries
- High stress around safety, productivity, and scheduling
- A culture where drinking or using can seem normal—until it isn’t
We help you look honestly at how substances have crept into your life, without attacking your identity or your pride in the work you do.
Why ILWU & PMA Members Choose Sober Partners
Most treatment centers don’t understand the port. They don’t know what it’s like to work the graveyard shift or handle cargo in all weather. They don’t get the culture.
Here’s what makes us different:
- Retired Longshoreman/ILWU member on staff who speaks your language and understands port life
- Benefits navigation specialists who work with maritime trust funds, EAPs, and FMLA
- 90-day continuum available (when benefits allow) so you can come back strong, not just patched up
- Beachside setting away from the port noise and triggers
- Return-to-work planning that accounts for shift work and the realities of going back to the waterfront
A Program That Fits ILWU & PMA Members
Our ILWU & PMA clients benefit from:
- A confidential admission process and clear guidance on benefits
- A calm, beach-area setting away from port noise and triggers
Treatment that accounts for:
- Irregular schedules and longshore culture
- Generational patterns (family history in the union)
- Fear of losing position, seniority, or reputation
We collaborate with:
- Union health plans and trust funds
- EAP/MAP programs, when required
- You and your family, so everyone understands the plan
A Path Back to Stability
Our goal is to help you:
- Get clean and medically stable
- Rebuild mental and emotional resilience
- Create a realistic plan for staying sober when you go back to the waterfront
- Protect your relationships, reputation, and long-term career as much as possible
For some ILWU & PMA members, that means a shorter stay. For others, it means building a full 90-day plan using our extended-care options and executive lodging.
Next Steps for ILWU & PMA Members
If you’re an ILWU or PMA member—or care about someone who is:
- Make a confidential call.
- Tell us you’re with ILWU or PMA.
- Ask to speak with our retired Longshoreman or another retired union team member for a straight conversation about your options.
Want to talk to someone who knows the port life firsthand? When you call, ask to speak with our retired Longshoreman on staff.
Reviewed and approved by Sanjai Thankachen, MD — Supervising Physician
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000. He completed his residency in psychiatry in 2008 from Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York, where fifty percent of his rotations were at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. After his residency he worked at Ventura County Medical Centers in an adult out-patient setting and now lives in Orange County, California.