Addicted Doctors and Denial

physician addiction denial interventionThe prospect of holding an intervention for someone you care for is stressful. They are emotional events and they do require people to face things that make them uncomfortable. However, when you use the services of a reputable interventionist, the intervention will be a positive and productive turn of events.

In cases of substance abuse in the general population, sometimes an intervention is necessary and sometimes it is not, depending on the situation, but in the case of a high stakes position such as a doctor, it is a critical step towards getting the individual the treatment they require to recover. Intervention plays a vital role in confronting the addictive behavior of a professional physician.

Intervention is defined as the moment a confrontation takes place between an individual suspected of addiction and the party that wants them to be evaluated for addiction treatment. Because intervention can be highly stressful and emotional, it is best to prepare in advance with the help of a professional intervention specialist. The addict is highly likely to be in a fragile emotional state, and a mismanaged intervention can quickly eradicate this.

An intervention may take place just as the warning signs of addictive substance abuse are surfacing, or it may take place when the addiction is in a more advanced state, depending on the circumstance. Traditionally, the addict’s support system comes together in one location to share what they have personally experienced of the individual’s substance abuse problem, the intention being to break down the inclination towards denial.

The immediate transferal of the addict to the treatment center is vital because an addict is statistically the most volatile after an intervention has taken place. This is because the security of denial is no longer an option and the individual’s emotional state can be very fractured. After the confrontation takes place, the addict is taken to a rehabilitation treatment center where they can safely begin the process of recovery through medical and mental health care.

Addiction Treatment for Medical Professionals

rehab doctor nurseIt is critical that physicians and other medical professionals are made aware of addiction treatment options and seek them out before their addictions ruin their lives. Not only should they commit to treatment, they should commit to proper treatment. There are many rehabilitation treatment programs available, but not all of them are suitable to accommodate a medical professional. The average rehab is overcrowded, underfunded and not equipped with the best and most modern treatment resources. These rehabs, though they have good intentions, cannot afford to provide the individualized care needed to vanquish the complex problem of addiction, and relapse is often a result. These results are too disruptive to a medical professional’s life and will only lead to more disappointment.

Luxury rehabilitation facilities with programs tailored to the needs of medical professionals will prove much more effective for the likes of doctors and nurses. Luxury rehabs can afford to stay current on the most effective addiction treatment methods, as well as provide their clients with a therapeutic environment to recover in. Treatment will include a medically supervised detox process and addiction recovery medication, if required, to restore the addict’s body to a healthy state. Then individual and group counseling will help the addict recognize the root causes of their addictive behavior, and therapeutic activities, serene settings and luxurious surroundings will help them feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Addiction can strike any demographic, even the group of people that society turns to with health concerns: medical professionals. The number of medical professionals who struggle with addiction is surprising, and easily comparable to the general populous. Physicians, nurses and other medical professionals face a unique set of stressful circumstances in their line of work, and in many cases fall victim to substance abuse in an effort to self medicate. Sadly, most do not voluntarily seek treatment because of the ramifications it would have on their careers, medical licenses and reputations. Many medical professionals are skilled at hiding their substance abuse problem as they are highly intelligent and self-aware, but addiction is always a downward spiral and catches up to anyone afflicted by it.