Addiction with Healthcare Workers and the Facility that can Help

It’s not easy having a career that requires so much of an individual, inclusive of holding the responsibility of other people’s lives in their hands. But healthcare professionals are charged with that task. And the responsibility can be heavy. So much so, that some may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to carry such emotional weight. Even though they’re well-respected members of their community, they are also human and sometimes need help just as anyone does.

Recovery First, an American Addiction Centers’ facility, offers a Healthcare Professionals Treatment Program. Located in Hollywood, Florida, it’s a welcoming environment for those battling with substance abuse to focus on their own recovery.

Healthcare professionals may face any number of the following challenges:

• Fears of their ability to continue working in their profession.
• Worrying about losing licensing due to substance abuse.
• Burnout.
• Stress/trauma-related incidents/trauma.
• High expectations set by themselves and/or others.

When these variables are combined, they can make for a troubling situation. The nature of the job of a healthcare professional is for them to be on-call regularly, be placed in stressful situations where another person’s life could be in jeopardy, and in split-second moments, to temporarily put their own safety and well-being to the side for the greater good of others.

These mounting pressures may often be the combined catalyst that lead to drug and/or alcohol abuse among these working professionals. And with the pandemic alone, healthcare workers have proven to have gone above and beyond for the benefit of others while putting their own welfare aside.

According to the National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health, a published study that surveyed 697 physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses concluded that “National and state organizations need to develop policies that focus on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of alcohol and other drug-using healthcare professionals.” Substance abuse among healthcare workers doesn’t seem to be higher than it is with the overall population. However, the concern is the general risk to the public when a healthcare worker is working under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Within the Healthcare Professionals Program at Recovery First, individuals will receive evidence-based treatment, as well as therapy.

This includes:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is a technique that can help individuals find different ways to behave by modifying their thought patterns.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI). This is a technique in which the counselor or therapist evolves into a helper in “the change process and expresses acceptance” of their client.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This is a type of psychotherapy that can quickly treat unprocessed memories. It can be applied to treat the impact of negative life experiences and psychological trauma.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This is a mindfulness behavior therapy that “assumes that the psychological processes of a normal human mind are often destructive and create psychological suffering.”

It’s unfortunate that healthcare workers have the amount of pressures that they do. And it’s even more unfortunate for those that may silently be battling a substance use disorder or an alcohol use disorder. But help is available.

Recovery First is here to help those healthcare professionals who are struggling with addiction. You don’t have to struggle. Recovery First Treatment Center is here to help.