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By Saivi Nandamuri
Often those who strive to help others are in need of help themselves. A prime example of this is physicians, who are five times more likely to misuse opioids and benzodiazepine, compared to their non-medical counterparts.
While there isn’t a definitive answer as to why, it’s likely due to two main reasons: access to drugs and high levels of stress.
Compared to the rest of the population, healthcare workers have an increased proximity to prescription medication. Many nurses, and especially doctors, take advantage of this by prescribing themselves medication. More often than not, this comes from a harmless place, whether it’s because they don’t have time to wait for their medication or the belief that they know how to diagnose themselves. However, the result of it can still be dire. Studies report that 87% of physicians have self-prescribed medication, and 55.3% wrote prescriptions for painkillers.
In addition to the ability to prescribe medicine to themselves, doctors are also susceptible because of the intense stress they go through at their job. Like any other job, being a doctor comes with many stressors, such as work-drama, high work loads and sleep deprivation. However, witnessing illness, death, and trauma frequently is an especially unique pressure.
Doctors face the burden of having to perform every movement with precision in matters of life or death. These pressures, along with the direct accessibility to opioids, can sometimes make these medications appear like the perfect solution.
While healthcare workers tend to not reach out for help because of fear of social, professional, legal, and financial repercussions, along with common personality traits of independence and perseverance, it’s imperative that they do.
One option includes anonymous and non-anonymous programs by the state’s Physician Health Program (PHP). However, there are many states – such as California – that do not have a PHP, in which case, individual organizations are available for physicians, such as the Californian Pacific Assistance Group.
It’s important that healthcare professionals go to programs that are specifically for those in their situation so they can receive personalized help. Additionally, it’s best to go to places outside of their medical community to receive treatment from people they don’t know.
The initial push for healthcare workers to accept help is difficult, but results show that they have the highest success rate, with 81% of participants maintaining sobriety for five years post-treatment.
Though doctors can easily fall into the pit of opioid addiction, it’s important that these programs are utilized to overcome the draws to misusing medications. Along with this, it’s vital that patients think of their doctors and nurses as people, and treat them with empathy, so they don’t feel pressured to turn to drugs for support.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
