Addiction Among Healthcare Professionals

Prevalence of Substance Abuse Disorder is disproportionately high among healthcare professionals. Stress, exhaustion, and a number of other factors cause people to turn to substances to keep up or cope. As a result, according to American Addiction Centers, 4.4% of people working in healthcare have a problem with heavy alcohol consumption and 5.5% of medical professionals struggle with illicit drug abuse.[1]

One of the most common forms of substance abuse is illicit opioid and narcotic use. The easy access of these types of drugs in a medical setting often causes problem usage to quickly spiral into a problem.[2] This issue is not limited to one type of medical professional. According to the Journal of Clinical Nursing, approximately 20% of all nurses struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.[3]

However, it is never too late to get control of substance abuse and your life. Studies also show that physicians who receive treatment and participate in ongoing monitoring have a low rate of relapse. One study, for example, one study found that 71% were still sober, licensed, and employed after 5 years. [4]

No matter your role, you deserve help on the road to recovery. Making the choice to get treatment can be the first step toward restoring your career and reestablishing a healthy lifestyle. If this speaks to you, Livengrin’s specialized programs treat healthcare professionals specifically, identifying their specific situation and needs so that they can achieve long-lasting recovery. To learn more, visit us here

[1] https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics/medical-professionals

[2] https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics/medical-professionals

[3] https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/medical-professionals/

[4] https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/medical-professionals/