Substance abuse is the major problem of twenty first century. Money and strength are often associated with good health and a high level of reputation. It is believed that professionals who have attained any degree of achievement have more minor concerns than the average person. As a result, they are less likely to experience addictions, substance abuse or drug abuse issues. It is believed that their high social status would shield them from any long-term damage due to the drug usage.
Executives, unfortunately, can create addictions, as well as mental health disorders, as a result of their substance abuse and drug abuse activities.
According to the New York Lawyer Assistance Program, lawyers have double the prevalence of substance abuse and drug abuse as the general population. Although lawyers may have more wealth and influence than the average citizen, they often tend to have the same substance abuse and drug abuse problems as their colleagues who aren’t lawyers.
There are recovery services tailored especially for clinicians, which is a blessing. Any sort of person in substance abuse can solve Dual Diagnosis problems with the aid of these advanced services.
Professionals’ Addiction to Substance Abuse and Drugs
People often misuse drugs or substance abuse in an erroneous effort to relieve the effects of mental illness. This is part of the reason for the very high Dual Diagnosis rates found in substance abuse or drug care centers all around the country. Professionals may succumb to the same temptation, relying on medications to alleviate emotional illness, and due to time limitations, they may be more likely to self-medicate. High-powered executives and well-trained psychiatric clinicians simply don’t have time for counseling sessions. They may be resistant to the adverse side effects that certain mental health drugs have.
Drugs and substance abuse seem to be a quick and easy way for them to improve their attitude without taking time away from their jobs.
Furthermore, some workers work in environments where they are exposed to potentially addictive medications for substance abuse on a regular basis.
For example, according to a report published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, physicians abused prescription substance abuse and drugs at rates comparable to the general population. Still, doctors had the freedom to write their prescriptions and steal pills from their practices. They didn’t have to go to the pharmacy or buy from a broker because their addictive medications were almost always available.
In a similar vein, dental experts interviewed for an article on addiction in their field identified a correlation between protocol misuse and holding a dental license. Dentists can quickly obtain this anesthetic drug or substance abuse and it is commonly used in dental procedures. However, it can be highly addictive, and dentists can find it challenging to break the habit since the drug is still there and ready to function.
Since they do not deal around addictive drugs or substance abuse, these groups of practitioners may seem to be less likely to develop an addiction.
This Class Includes the Following Individuals:
- Sellers on the stock exchange
- Executives in the advertising industry
- Writers and poets
- Account supervisors
- People who work in sales
Studies on substance abuse say People like this, on the other hand, could be expected to work long hours at mealtimes. They may be required to escort customers out for lunch or dinner, or they may be needed to close transactions over drinks.
This introduces these staff to alcohol on a daily basis, and according to a Wall Street Journal investigation, many businesses are supplying free alcohol to their up-and-coming executives to promote teamwork and company loyalty. Studies on substance abuse say If the connection between alcohol and professional performance becomes more precise, this could make addictions much more common in people who work in high-pressure occupations.
One of the highest prevalence of substance abuse in the population is among doctors and nurses. “Across the world, more than 100,000 physicians, nurses, technicians, and other health workers deal with violence or addiction, mostly including opioids like Oxycodone and Fentanyl,” according to USA Today.
Like many other working professionals who struggle with addiction, a medical professional can turn to drug, alcohol or substance abuse for many reasons. They may be looking for a way to remain alert during an all-day or overnight shift or a way to cope with the mental discomfort of a day filled with difficult choices and disappointing results.
What distinguishes doctors and nurses from most professions is their easy access to heavily sought-after medications; since it’s easier for them to get the drugs or substance abuse, it’s often easier for them to start or maintain an addiction.
Doctors and nurses have a high prevalence of substance abuse or addiction, but they also have a high rate of rehabilitation after they undergo medication.
Medical Professionals Showing Signs of Addiction and Substance Abuse
Since physicians and nurses are often known to be fully functioning abusers, recognizing opioid or alcohol dependency in them can be difficult. This ensures they can sustain their job, family life, and drug abuse or substance abuse for an extended period of time without attracting the attention of others.
The Below Are Some of The Most Common Symptoms of Addiction in Physicians and Nurses:
- Regularly switching jobs
- Preferring night shifts to day shifts because there is less supervision and more medicine available.
- Dozing off on the job or in the middle of a move
- Providing opioids to patients on a daily basis as a volunteer
- Concerns about taking overtime or additional changes
- Taking daily toilet breaks or missing work without explanation
- Having an alcoholic odor or using breath mints or mouthwash unnecessarily
- Economic, friendship, or family pressures that are out of control
- Pupils that are too thin or have a glassy appearance
- An exceptionally warm relationship with physicians who write prescriptions
- Incomplete charts or documentation mistakes that occur often
A doctor or nurse’s career has many characteristics that make them more susceptible to developing drug abuse or substance abuse than other professions.
The simple supply of potent opioid drugs or substance abuse that aren’t adequately cared for when prescribed is a common explanation why care practitioners might be inclined to misuse narcotics like Oxycodone or Fentanyl. They also have a thorough knowledge of the impact these drugs or substance abuse have on others, which can lead them to attempt to replicate these symptoms in order to achieve a high or euphoria.
Medical practitioners are expected to make spur-of-the-moment decisions about their patients’ health and wellbeing in addition to their erratic and stressful work hours. Suppose they feel guilty for an inevitable result or come to reconsider a decision. In that case, it may have a significant impact on their feelings and mental health, even contributing to drug misuse and substance abuse.
A medical practitioner who is addicted is more likely than their non-addicted counterparts to cause a workplace injury or neglect their patients’ wellbeing. They can be overwhelmed at work or interrupt crucial appointments or surgical operations early to use medicines.
I’d be standing in the emergency room and look like I had the flu on occasion. So I’d excuse myself, dash into the bathroom, down ten [Tylenols with codeine], and be back to work in about five or ten minutes.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Richard Able, a former chief resident of neurosurgery at a major Chicago hospital,
Doctors and nurses who are addicted endanger their own life and the health of the people they are caring for. While it can be difficult for a care practitioner to admit they have an addiction, the earlier the addiction is addressed, the better. This will help to discourage workplace accidents and the overlooking of vital indicators of health problems in patients.
The Assistance that Professionals Need
Professionals may be more vulnerable to substance abuse issues like this. Doctors that misuse medications, for example, fear injuring or even killing their patients, as well as losing their medical license. Lawyers who get drunk before a court may lose their lawsuits, and if a serious crime is discovered, they may lose their support to practice law. And corporate owners fear losing their jobs if they make an awkward mistake in front of a customer. These are the kinds of cues that can hold a nurse in care to guarantee that they recover.
Professionals Often Require the Same Behavioral Approaches that Are Used to Treat Addicts of All Socioeconomic Backgrounds, Such As:
- Counselling and psychotherapy
- Substance abuse treatment
- Encourage collaboration of groups
- Medication administration
Studies on substance abuse say professionals, on the other hand, can need a great deal of discretion. Their jobs may be in jeopardy while they recover, and while they may be driven to work hard, they may not want their achievements trumpeted from the mountaintops. Their protection must be guaranteed by the services they use.
For certain practitioners, time constraints may also be a concern. They may not be able to take time away from their everyday life in order to get treatment for an illness, and as a result, they may find the thought of entering inpatient treatment to be unrealistic. Studies on substance abuse say professionals should be able to continue functioning as they recover so that outpatient treatment may be a safer choice.
However, in the early stages of rehab, as they are confronted by substance abuse and drugs at work, certain professionals can find themselves too tempted to relapse. Executive rehab services that are administered on an inpatient basis can be helpful to professionals like this. These professionals can also mislead their coworkers into thinking they’re going on vacation while they’re really attending executive recovery services to improve their lives.
Please get in touch with us if you’d like to learn more about our experienced inpatient and outpatient services. Our admissions coordinators may support you in finding Foundations Recovery Network treatment facilities that could help you to cater substance abuse.
Ben Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health, fitness and medicine. His articles impress with unique research work as well as field-tested skills. He is a freelance medical writer specializing in creating content to improve public awareness of health topics. We are honored to have Ben writing exclusively for Dualdiagnosis.org.