Alcohol/Drug Addiction & the Health Service Professional

It is important for health service professionals to have a basic knowledge regarding alcohol/drug addiction in order to successfully help a patient, colleague or employee suffering from alcohol/drug addiction. It is important to recognize the following as essential features of alcohol/drug addiction:

• Alcohol/drug addiction is a primary disease. It has specific symptoms and is not to be confused with stress, painful relationships or difficult work demands.
• Alcohol/drug addiction is progressive. If left untreated, the symptoms of the disease worsen.
• Alcohol/drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder. It cannot be cured. The symptoms of dependency can be arrested, however, without significant lifestyle changes and continued recovery, the symptoms of addiction will reoccur.
• Alcohol/drug addiction can be fatal. Many accidental overdoses, and other deaths and suicides are the result of an individual's alcohol/drug dependence.

Health Service Professionals Are at Increased Risk for Alcohol/Drug Addiction

• Exposure and accessibility to mood-altering medications
• Pharmacological knowledge of the drugs fosters a false sense of control
• Health service professionals have a tendency to self-diagnose and self-medicate
• Health service professionals are constantly exposed to "medications" which fosters a belief drugs "will work" or they are the "solution"
• Health service professionals are rewarded for taking care of others (patients) above and beyond normal human limitations
• Focus is on caring for the patient, self-regulation is neglected
• Being a "healer" produces an affect of omnipotence or a sense of being invincible
• Many health service professionals develop a dependence to their job "they need me here, I can't go home" or "no one can do this job besides me"

Why Health Service Professionals do not get help:

• Fear of licensure problems
• Fear of losing employment, loss of status
• Lack of understanding about alcohol/drug addiction by colleagues, administrators, insurance companies and institutions
• Fear of being alone, "I'm the only alcohol/drug dependent professional"
• Shame
• Lack of knowledge by treatment providers that minimizes or discounts the severity and extent of alcohol/drug addiction and health service professionals
• Fear of legal problems
• Concerns over malpractice issues
• Concerns regarding professional liability insurance coverage