Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals often struggle with addiction and alcoholism. This surprises most people because these individuals are supposed to be focused on good health. However, addiction does not discriminate, and alcoholism and drug addiction among medical professionals are relatively common.
If you are in the medical field and have an addiction, your situation may seem hopeless. You may think there is no way out and that you cannot escape it. While it may be difficult, it is possible to recover. Northpoint Idaho’s medical professionals’ addiction treatment program in Boise, Idaho, can help you. Contact us today at 888.296.8976.
Why Is Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Among Medical Professionals Common?
No one in the medical field plans to get addicted to substances. Addiction begins with abusing substances, and the temptation to do so is great. People who abuse drugs or alcohol often feel they can control their use, even after the addiction has set in. Addiction is a brain disease and does not go away overnight. But why are medical professionals prone to addiction?
“Physicians are invested with awesome responsibility and trust. We are thought of as invulnerable, as miracle workers, and we’re told, ‘Heal thyself.’ We’re no better at that than the rest of you, and in some ways, we’re far worse.” – Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Boston, Massachusetts
The idea of an addicted doctor is strange to most people, but the fact is that as many as 15% of doctors in the United States are addicted to drugs. What may be even more interesting is that only between 8 and 10% of the general population has addiction problems.
Many different factors lead to addictions in medical professionals, such as:
- Their jobs are very demanding and require a high level of concentration
- They often work long hours and have difficulty sleeping and waking up
- The stress of spending so much time away from their families may be causing them to turn to substances
- Hospitals, doctors’ offices, and clinics make medications and the tools to administer them very accessible
- Many medical professionals suffer from mental illnesses, which they may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol
Understanding the reasons behind medical professionals’ addictions might not automatically point to the solution for this widespread problem. Still, it can help them realize they are not alone, although many are convinced.
What Stops Medical Professionals from Getting Help for Addiction?
Medical professionals will often cite several different reasons they cannot get help for their addictions. These reasons include:
- Not being able to take time off to go to rehab
- Being unable to afford to close their practice during treatment
- Feeling as though the addiction is something that they can heal from without professional treatment
- Having financial problems that prevent them from covering the cost of treatment
- Not wanting to be open and honest about the presence of an addiction
While you can overcome many of these objections, in the mind of someone with addiction, these concerns are very real. Even so, going to addiction treatment is the only way to heal. Without the proper professional help, the addiction is likely to continue and lead to more serious consequences.
What are the Consequences of Not Getting Treatment?
If you are a medical professional and choose not to get treatment for your addiction, eventually, you may suffer some of the following consequences:
- You may lose your job.
- You may lose your license.
- You may lose your partner.
- You may struggle financially.
- Your health may decline.
It is not possible to continue to abuse substances while working in the healthcare industry, and even though you may do it for several years before anyone finds out, at some point, you may make a mistake that ends badly for you.
Finding a Medical Professionals Addiction Treatment Program Near Boise, Idaho
Undoubtedly, you may have many questions about what might happen when you go to drug and alcohol rehab. There may be some very valid concerns about whether or not you can take off from work to get help or even about what to expect when treatment begins. Your addiction treatment options include:
- Drug and alcohol detox is usually essential for almost everyone who needs help with an addiction. It is a process that helps by clearing the body of toxins left there from the substances used. It makes a recovery safer and much easier.
- Inpatient rehab can last for around 30 days and is usually appropriate for most patients who need addiction treatment. Inpatient rehab offers a high level of support and removes patients from any temptation to use.
- Intensive outpatient treatment allows patients to live at home but still get a high level of support while in recovery.
- Outpatient treatment is for patients whose addictions are not as severe or have already completed an inpatient treatment program.
- Residential treatment is appropriate for patients who need a higher level of care for a more extended period.
Each treatment program is different, but the staff will consider your unique needs when you choose a medical professionals’ addiction treatment program.
Northpoint Idaho: The Top Medical Professionals Addiction Treatment in Boise, Idaho
Once you get addiction treatment, you will find that so much about your life will change. Not only will your personal and professional lives be improved, but if you choose to get help on your own, you will likely be able to avoid a lot of the consequences that can arise for healthcare worker addiction. If you get help for your addiction because you were required to do so, you may find it to be a bit more difficult to manage. You’ll need to get your medical license reinstated, and you may have to endure a very long period of counseling and monitoring by the medical board in your state.