{"id":22959,"date":"2021-05-06T17:15:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T17:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/warnerparkrecovery.com\/?p=22959"},"modified":"2022-07-22T09:04:08","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T09:04:08","slug":"addiction-among-healthcare-providers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warnerparkrecovery.com\/addiction\/addiction-among-healthcare-providers\/","title":{"rendered":"Addiction Among Healthcare Providers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Addiction Among Healthcare Providers<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, or technicians, are often at a high risk of developing a substance abuse problem. Access to prescription medications combined with the high-intensity, stress-inducing work environment leaves many vulnerable to substance use. It is important to seek treatment for anyone within the medical community who is misusing drugs or alcohol.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why Are Medical Professionals Heavily Affected by Addiction\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There are many aspects of the medical profession that may make them vulnerable to the development of substance abuse issues. Doctors and nurses will often have incredibly easy access to powerful prescription medications, including prescription opioids such as Oxycontin<\/a><\/span>. In small amounts, doctors and nurses may often be able to take some of these medications without others noticing anything has gone missing.<\/span><\/p>

As time goes on, doctors and nurses may need more and more medications to feel the desired effects. They may make friends with other doctors who will be willing to prescribe them prescription drugs without too many questions. Because doctors and nurses have medical training, they can often fake symptoms more effectively to get a prescription for more medication.<\/span><\/p>

Medical professionals work in a high-stress environment. Being placed in situations that cause anxiety often will make a chemical change in the brain that is similar to how addiction affects the brain. Dealing with chronic stress makes a person more vulnerable to developing a substance abuse or mental health challenge. It also makes recovery addicts more likely to relapse.<\/span><\/p>

Medical professionals, specifically doctors and nurses, are forced to make split-second decisions, often with patients’ lives on the line. Seeing death and the terminally ill on a daily basis can be incredibly scarring for a person. Doctors and nurses may experience trauma based on graphic images within the hospital or may feel an intense feeling of guilt at the loss of a patient if they feel that it is their fault. Often they may turn to substance use to deal with the pain.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Signs of Addiction in the Workplace\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Many doctors and nurses with a substance abuse issue are “functioning” addicts, meaning that the signs of their alcohol or drug use may not be readily apparent to those around them. Still, there are often crucial signs to watch out if you think someone around you may be suffering from a substance use problem. Common signs of substance abuse among medical professionals include:<\/span><\/p>