Treatment

One study estimates the current number of U.S. physicians with a substance abuse problem to be approximately 17,000 of about the 840,000 total. Surprisingly, though, research indicates that the majority of those physicians who attend and complete a rehabilitation program do return to practice. Multiple studies have placed rate of impaired physicians who successfully rehabilitate to be around 70%, although some studies cite rates as high as 92%, as compared to the general population rate of 5-10%.

Here at Treatment4Physicians, when designing our rehabilitation program we considered this high rate of success and accounted for factors that could increase this rate. Our program treats physicians as both colleagues and clients, and helps them to further their own education about the disease of addiction while learning about themselves. We teach how to avoid the pitfalls of addiction and maintain sobriety while actively practicing medicine.

Our experience is that treating addiction and substance abuse in physicians is extremely difficult while they are still in practice. Physicians who have tried and failed to quit abusing substances while practicing can confirm that these difficulties are due in large part to having ready access to drugs or pharmaceuticals. For this reason, in-patient treatment programs are a far more common solution for substance abuse (although out-patient programs are available). The high level of compliance and motivation of physicians in rehabilitation ensues in a shorter stay and generally more successful outcomes.

Goals of Treatment

In our treatment program, we emphasize several goals. The first goal of treatment is also a prerequisite; physicians starting in our program need to have completed detoxification and be clean from all substances. Through physical, spiritual, and mental rehabilitation, we emphasize a return of the skills and abilities required to be a physician, such as manual dexterity, mental facilities, and medical judgment. Our overall goal is to reverse the classification of “impaired physician” while teaching how to avoid the pitfalls of addiction in the future. We are also knowledgeable about and willing to work with supervisory programs for licensure and careers requirements. Post-treatment options for physicians are variable and often include out-patient or aftercare programs.

Treatment4Physicians was designed specifically for health-care professionals in need of drug and alcohol treatment. For more information on our programs or to speak to a staff member, please call today at 1-888-TODAY.