No one would argue nurses have an extremely challenging job – the high levels of work-related stress they face combined with daily exposure to sickness, death and trauma… No wonder one published study showed 22% of nurses (more than 1 in 5) were found to demonstrate symptoms of PTSD.[1] It’s also no wonder the stress…
Methamphetamine (“meth”), a highly addictive stimulant, is a drug that starts and fades quickly, giving rise to people taking repeated doses in a “binge and crash” pattern. Often, those who abuse meth or become chemically dependent on it will forego food or sleep to stay high, while continuing to take meth every few hours for…
Substance Abusing or Addicted Healthcare Workers Spawn Recommendation of Random Drug Testing, Expanded Treatment Services Given the potential for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to have substance abuse or addiction issues (a.k.a. substance use disorders), many have suggested the need for enforced random drug testing of hospital staff, as well as expanding supportive addiction…
populations who struggle with addiction, many seemingly successful individuals also struggle with this condition. High-achieving, wealthy people in white-collar careers experience substance use disorders at high rates, often beginning drug abuse as students and then continuing the problem when they enter a competitive, stressful workforce. Some professions that involve stressful lifestyles are at greater risk…
When healthcare workers become dependent upon the very drugs intended to help their patients, disaster is right around the corner. And the problem is not limited to just a few doctors and nurses addicted to painkillers. Indeed, survey results indicate 1 out of 10 healthcare workers (10%) will experience substance abuse or addiction issues during…
The findings of recent research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) demonstrate both the potentially lifer-saving value of getting medically assisted treatment if you have an opioid use disorder (OUD, a.k.a. opioid dependency or addiction). In the study, of the roughly 50,000 adults who received outpatient treatment for opioid use disorder, there were…
So often in recovery circles we hear someone say, “I’ve had to preserve my self-image at all costs. Because if anyone found out about my problem (with drinking and/or drugs), it would ruin me.” And more often than not, it’s a professional in some field—typically a doctor or nurse or lawyer or business executive—with a…
Given medical professionals—surgeons, doctors, nurses, etc.—have dedicated huge amounts of schooling, training time and effort to prepare for their jobs and then go on to dedicate their lives to helping others recover their health and wellness, their very lives in some cases, it may seem paradoxical there would be such high percentages of alcoholism…
In defining addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states “(addiction) is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long-lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs.”[1] Importantly, they…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 10-15% of healthcare professionals will misuse drugs or alcohol at some point in their career, which is similar to the rate of the rest of the population.[1] However, there are numerous occupational hazards unique to pharmacists involving risk factors such as: · Easy access…
