Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may abuse alcohol or drugs for various reasons. Some may need to cope with the pressures of the job. Others may be trying to stay alert during long, demanding shifts. Whatever the reason, there is an increasing demand for drug rehab for medical professionals.
While addiction can be isolating, medical professionals have some of the most successful rates of recovery. There are many treatment programs specifically tailored to the needs of medical personnel. BoardPrep Recovery offers one of the most thorough and innovative drug rehab programs for professionals in Florida. Are you or someone you care about a medical professional struggling with substance abuse or addiction? If so, call BoardPrep Recovery today at 866.796.4720 or contact us any time online using our short, secure form.
Factors for Addiction in Medical Professionals
Many factors may contribute to anyone’s substance abuse or addiction disorder. However, medical professionals also work under certain circumstances unique to their profession. These challenges may increase the likelihood of turning to alcohol or drugs to cope with the work.
If a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional feels as though a decision they’ve made about a patient’s care has led to a poor outcome, they may feel emotionally vulnerable. This can result in self-medicating with alcohol to numb their feelings. Furthermore, access to prescription opioids and knowledge of the highs they can produce may result in a temptation to use them. For example, narcotics such as fentanyl or oxycodone are among some of the most commonly abused opioids among medical professionals.
Signs of Substance Use in Medical Settings.
Substance use and addiction can affect both a person’s physical and mental health. However, addiction can also have personal and professional consequences that affect an individual’s family, friends, and colleagues.
There are signs of substance use that may be particular to medical professionals. While on the job, a doctor or other staff member may display symptoms such as:
- Taking frequent breaks or being absent without an explanation
- Demonstrating a preference for night shifts, which in turn can mean reduced supervision and increased access to medication
- Having recording errors in their charts or paperwork
- Causing workplace accidents that put patients, coworkers, or themselves at risk
- Displaying financial strain
- Having anxiety about work
- Experiencing extreme stress in personal relationships
If someone you love is displaying these symptoms, it may be necessary to find a rehab for medical professionals.
The Importance of Rehab for Medical Professionals
Addiction in medical professionals has specific treatment requirements. Crucially, medical professionals need to know that the doctors and care workers who are treating them understand how working conditions may have led the client into a pattern of substance abuse. Knowing that their doctors are sympathetic to their circumstances allows medical professionals to feel confident in treatment. This feeling results in a greater likelihood of completing a treatment program successfully and reduces the risk of a relapse.
Substance use’s mental and physical toll is just one aspect of treating addiction in medical professionals. It is also necessary to repair the personal and professional relationships that a person’s addiction may have compromised. Medical professionals may also face legal and licensing issues that they must resolve before resuming work. It can take time to restore one’s reputation and return to practice. Continuing professional practice may also require long-term monitoring, aftercare, and detailed return-to-work plans. These supports consider a person’s individual professional circumstances, legal issues, and on-the-job triggers.
Drug Rehab for Medical Professionals Is Available at BoardPrep Recovery
If you are a medical professional in need of drug rehab, BoardPrep Recovery offers a wide range of time-tested treatment options for addiction and mental illness. BoardPrep Recovery specializes in drug rehab for medical professionals, including:
- Single- and multi-day evaluation services
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Medical detox
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
We also offer a variety of psychiatric interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Get on the road to recovery today. Call BoardPrep Recovery at 866.796.4720 or reach out on the web at your convenience.