With a high amount of stress and pressure loaded on medical health professionals, it is not a surprise on how many of them turn to bad habits such as participating and making aposta esportiva or substance abuse based on alcohol or drugs. When we think of medical professionals, we would not expect them to be addicted to bad habits. They are trained and made to help others get better and overcome their addictions instead of having one themselves. Despite that, medical professionals are still humans after all, they could also resort to addictions although they are in the medical field. Yes, they are made to put others first before themselves, but sometimes they are going through a tough time themselves with no one to help them.
Why Do Medical Professionals Resort To Addictions?
They are, infact, a working professional above all else. Being in the medical industry makes no difference. They are still normal working employees struggling, be it mentally or physically. There are no particular reasons as to why one resorts to bad addictions, but ultimately, it boils down to a way of escaping reality or to stay sane throughout the hectic lifestyle. We all know how difficult and tough the medical industry is, having to be on call even on your days off. The only primary difference between medical professionals and normal working professionals is that they are able to prescribe themselves the medications or diagnose themselves with whatever addiction they are going through.
Since medical professionals fully understand the side effects or what could happen once they get addicted to it, they are able to dive into it themselves. They are also required to make quick decisions when it comes to life or death decisions with patients, which is why they feel utterly responsible to ensure they make the right decisions or else the result could be deadly. Hence, all the more reason on why medical professionals resort to several kinds of addictions, be it drug abuse, alcohol or gambling because their mental or emotional health is affected by the huge burden and responsibility on their shoulders.
How To Know If They Are Going Through An Addiction
When medical professionals have an addiction, it may not be easy to distinguish as they are able to balance their personal life, career and the addiction extremely well. Most people would not even realize that they have an addiction. Here are some common signs that these medical professionals have an addiction:
- Small pupils or glassy eyes
- Unable to stay awake
- Choosing night shifts instead of day shifts voluntarily
- Goes to the bathroom often or take leaves regularly
- Have anxiety that causes them to worry when they are required to work extra shifts or overtime
- Switching jobs regularly
- Frequent smells of alcohol or any other substances while using mouthwash or breath mints
What Happens When Medical Professionals Have Addictions?
Well, it could possibly affect their colleagues, or worse – the patients. They could possibly cause potential harm to their patients due to their lack of attention and their own health condition. In return, they may not perform their utmost best to their patients, ensuring they are able to help cure them. Not only are they putting themselves at risk, but also their own patients as well. For instance, one doctor had to excuse himself during an operation to take Tylenols with codeine and eat them in a bathroom in order to be normal. He looked like he had the flu prior to taking the drugs.
How Medical Professionals With An Addiction Can Get Treatment
Thankfully, there are several ways on how they could get treatment. There are several programs dedicated just for medical health professionals that are going through an addiction through recovery and offering ways to avoid any potential triggers when they start working again. Some of the ways they could get help on would be:
- Getting back on track with their reputation and career
- Settling disciplinary or licensing matters
- Ways on how to return back to the professional workplace
- Having regular check-ins after the treatment program ends
Studies have shown that medical professionals have a higher rate of recovery compared to regular people. So if you happen to know someone who is in the medical industry and is currently going through an addiction, there is hope for them to recover and get back to normal again.
