An addictive disease model suggests that an addiction is progressive, is chronic, is incurable, and is potentially fatal. Health care professionals know this likely better than others. Why would a health care professional become an addict?
3.6% of the doctors in the United States are Anesthesiologists. Their rate of addiction is three times higher than that of other doctors. Also, anesthesiologists are at a much higher risk for relapse than other doctors.
Why are anesthesiologists at a higher risk than other specialists? There are many factors that have been proposed to explain the high incidence of addiction in anesthesiologists. Included are:
- Access to powerful drugs, especially opiates
- Regular contact with highly addictive substances like fentanyl and sufentanyl
- Use of these highly addictive drugs is easy because small doses will initially produce the desire effect
- Curiosity about what the patient experiences under the influence of these drugs
- Controlling personality traits
Many drug addicted anesthesiologists show similar traits:
- More than half are under 35
- 67% - 88% are male
- 75% - 96% are white
- 33% - 50% use multiple drugs
- 33% have a family history of addiction, notably alcoholism
The drug of choice among anesthesiologists seems to be the opiates, such as fentanyl followed by merperidine and morphine. This is most evident in anesthesiologists under the age of 35. Older doctors seem to prefer alcohol.
Obtaining the drugs is a matter of creativity. Most frequently is false recording of the drug delivery to the patient or keeping wastage. Often drug ampoules are accessed and another substance is substituted. An indicator that the doctor may be an abuser is their willingness to work nights and weekends when supervision may be less.
Regardless of the drug the anesthesiologist is abusing, any change in behavior is a sign that something is wrong. If watching for signs of addiction, keep in mind that:
- Denial is universal
- Showing symptoms at the work place are the last to appear. First is social and second is at home.
- Addicts are often found comatose
Following is a list of often overlooked symptoms
- A desire to work alone
- Refusal to go on breaks
- Frequently offers to relieve others
- Volunteers for extra cases
- Weight loss
- Frequent bathroom breaks
Dealing with addiction is a difficult process for many. Not only are there psychological factors and the physical addition, there is the social stigma attached to drug addiction or alcohol abuse. However, education on the subject by everyone will change attitudes and anesthesiologists, as well as others, will learn to treat themselves and others with compassion and accountability, saving practices and lives from ruin. Give the folks at The Williamsburg Place and the Farley Center a call at (877) 389-4968 to learn how you can get the help you desperately need if you are a dentist with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
