The National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism estimates 17 million American adults have an alcohol use disorder, which they define as “a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health consequences.”[1] In spite of how prevalent this condition is, a nationwide study based on…
Professionals struggling with addiction need help just like anyone else. More and more addiction treatment centers have begun offering treatment for professionals. The specialized care and unique approach in these programs give professionals the best chance at experiencing life transformation that shatters the bonds of addiction. Finding the right drug treatment for professionals is the…
It turns out, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the difference between being a “social drinker” and a “heavy drinker” may be less than you think. If you’re a woman, consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week puts you in the “heavy drinker” category. If you’re a man, it’s 15 alcoholic…
“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” – William Blake It does not escape me, and it seems not all that long ago, I was looking in my rearview mirror constantly… not just when I drove my car—afraid I’d be pulled over with a quantity of drugs on me worthy of a stiff jail sentence—but…
In a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings titled, “Chemical Dependency and the Physician,”[1] the authors point out that medical doctors—contrary to what many may think—are not immune from the problem of chemical dependency (a.k.a., substance use disorder, addiction to alcohol and/or drugs). In fact, they cite research confirming doctors have an addiction rate similar…
On Oct. 26, 2021, officials for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration put out a bulletin about the results of a wide-ranging drug sting operation, concerning the online sale of “fake” pharmaceutical pills, many of which were laced with lethal drugs, including fentanyl. More than 150 suspects worldwide were arrested, including 65 Americans. Besides the nearly…
According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, as of 2017, more than a quarter billion people around the world live with depression.[1] To be clear, the mental health issue known as depression is not simply when one feels “down” or experiences having a particularly “bad day.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Medical professionals are not exempt from experiencing addiction purely because of the work they do. Addiction can affect anyone. In fact, the reasons for addiction in medical professionals often differ from why people in the general population develop an addiction. That, in turn, means specialized addiction treatment for medical professionals provides the best path forward.…
When I first came into recovery, I recall someone who I respected a lot (either a treatment counselor or my 12 Steps sponsor) telling me, “Man, you’ve gotta’ lighten up your grip on the steering wheel!” At that moment, I didn’t really know what he was referring to… but I sure have learned a lot…
According to a recent American Medical Association (AMA) announcement titled, “2021 Overdose Epidemic Report,” while physicians, policymakers and those working in the field of professional healthcare across the country have followed the recommendations of two task forces set in motion by the AMA (operative between 2014 – 2019), the results have been mixed. The number…
