Health care professionals, especially in the most developed countries, attribute to the highest drug and substance abuse rates in the medical field. Today a case study in the USA would reveal that approximately 100,000 medical personnel, such as nurses and other technicians, struggle with drug and substance abuse.
Questions may crop out as to how this is practical. Well, this is explained by different scenarios but not limited to; a way to manage stress from everyday hard decisions reached, a means of remaining alert during shifts or working hours, access to drugs that are in high demand, and also imbalance between work and life.
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Dealing With People At Their Worst
Different professionals deal with people while at their worst. This could be emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Medical professionals are responsible for handling mental and physical attributes or disorders. Events such as these have directly connected with the high-stress work environment in medical facilities.
As a result of these painful ordeals, medical staff turn to drug and substance abuse and eventually become dependent on the same. It is exacerbated by the fact that healthcare professionals have extensive knowledge of the effects of these drugs on an individual, Knowledge which would later impact the usage of drugs with the belief that they would know when to stop. Eventually, they become functional addicts.
Witnessing Traumatic Events
Trauma is customary within the healthcare environment. Traumatic events include;
- fatal accidents
- losing patients
- infant mortality
Unfortunately, a significant population of our health care providers has sought solace in substances in the hope of dealing with work trauma.
For medical staff, over-reliance and dependence on drugs are commonplace globally.
Stop suffering and start living! Our professional team is waiting to help you find the right treatment.
Long Hours and Short-Staffed
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the doctor-to-patient ratio should be 1:1000. This means one doctor should serve a population of at least 1000 patients. Unfortunately, this is barely the case, especially in developing countries.
Doctors and other medical professionals are generally understaffed, resulting in long work hours and minimal rest time between shifts.
This is the single most common contributing factor to fatigue and exhaustion among health care providers. Nurses are more susceptible to addiction due to direct access to pharmacology. It consequently results in self-medication by the nurses leading to addiction to an array of controlled substances in medical facilities.
A Pandemic We Weren’t Expecting
The year 2020 marked a new era when a dreaded disease struck every corner of the world. Covid-19 spread across nations furtively through direct contact of people, among other ways.
It can produce severe symptoms such as fever, dry cough, loss of appetite, general body weakness, and even death. The pandemic was so devastating that even our frontline workers were exposed to the same, leading to their deaths.
At the start, the infection rate was so high that medical professionals were overwhelmed with the increasing number of admissions of patients. Health care providers had to spend nearly 24 hours of the day in hospitals busy attending to these patients. Traumatic experiences, long working hours, and access to substances and drugs triggered addiction among health professionals.
Unable To Manage A Healthy Work-Life Balance
Health care professionals have a demanding career. The busy schedules, late-night shifts, and numerous emergency call-ups propagate a situation. Some health care providers end up being secluded from the lives of their family members. There is a need to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
As a result of such a disconnect, many nurses and doctors turn to drug and substance addiction. Alcoholism, to be specific, has come out to be a significant land spot for nurses and doctors who have undergone traumatic episodes, hefty work schedules, and family disconnect, among other scenarios.
Medical practitioners may also be suffering from underlying mental problems. This may take a toll on these professionals leading to alcoholism as a way to cope with the same and also handle stress from home and family.
Easier Access To Substances
Medical professionals, especially doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, have direct access to drugs and substances in medical facilities. Prescription drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines are subject to misuse, especially during exhausting shifts.
These drugs tend to “relax” the body and can be stimulants to provide energy to counter burnout. Combining these drugs with alcohol and other narcotics tends to worsen situations.
It proves the hard reality that addiction is equally applicable to anyone across any profession.
Treatment Options For Health Professionals (cut down)
Treatment options for any health professional are readily available. Common types of treatment include:
- Medically-assisted detox
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Partial-hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient rehabilitation
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Specialty therapy
How We Can Help You
If you are a medical professional struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Our team understands what you are going through and how to help you. Contact us today to learn more about your options!
