Doctors who abuse prescription drugs often do so for “self-medication” - whether for physical or emotional pain or stress relief, reports a study in the October Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Based on focus groups with physicians in treatment for substance abuse, the findings lend “unique insights” into the reasons why doctors abuse prescription medications - as well as important implications for prevention and recognition. The lead author was Lisa J. Merlo, PhD, MPE, of the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Physicians in Recovery Discuss Why They Abused Prescription Meds

In anonymous discussions, the researchers talked about reasons for prescription drug abuse with 55 physicians in recovery. The doctors were being monitored for substance abuse as part of their state’s physician health program. Sixty-nine percent of the physicians had abused prescription drugs, in addition to alcohol and illicit drugs.

Of five major themes that emerged in the focus groups, three were related to “self-medication” using prescription drugs. The doctors reported using medications for self-treatment of:

  Physical pain - Many physicians initially developed their drug habit while using medications prescribed for chronic pain after trauma or surgery.
  Emotional pain and psychiatric symptoms - Some doctors found that prescription drugs finally gave them an effective treatment for ” longstanding problems with anxiety or depression.”
  Work and life stress - The physicians commonly used medications to relieve stress related to their personal or professional life.

Like other substance abusers, many of the physicians said they also used drugs recreationally - to “get high.” Others said they used prescription drugs to treat symptoms of drug withdrawal. For many doctors, as their addiction problem progressed, managing withdrawal became an increasingly important reason for drug use.

Findings May Help in Preventing and Recognizing Drug Abuse by Doctors

The rate of drug misuse by doctors is similar to that in the general population. However, because they have access, physicians seem more likely to use prescription drugs. Substance use is the most common cause of impairment among physicians. Their professional colleagues are required to refer or report them when substance abuse is suspected.

Physician health programs provide referrals for long-term treatment, monitoring, and drug screening, with a high success rate in achieving long-term freedom from substance abuse. Asking physicians in recovery about their experience provides a unique opportunity to understand the reasons for substance abuse by health care professionals.

The findings highlight the importance of self-medication as a reason for prescription drug abuse by doctors, although recreational use is important as well. The study “provides additional evidence that health care professionals who misuse prescription drugs may represent a special population of substance users, who may use substances for various reasons and may require different methods of prevention and intervention to be most effective,” Dr Merlo and coauthors write.

The researchers suggest that prevention efforts targeting prescription drug misuse by physicians should start during medical training, with required continuing education throughout their careers. Education should include strong messages to doctors that they must seek qualified medical care for pain or other medical problems, as well as for psychiatric or emotional concerns - rather than trying to treat themselves. Dr Merlo and colleagues add, “All physicians should learn the signs of substance abuse and the procedure for intervening with a colleague suspected of substance-related impairment.”

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About Journal of Addiction Medicine

The mission of Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is to promote excellence in the practice of addiction medicine and in clinical research as well as to support Addiction Medicine as a mainstream medical specialty. Published quarterly, the Journal is designed for all physicians and other mental health professionals who need to keep up-to-date with the treatment of addiction disorders. Under the guidance of an esteemed Editorial Board, peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal focus on developments in addiction medicine as well as on treatment innovations and ethical, economic, forensic, and social topics.

About the American Society of Addiction Medicine

The American Society for Addiction Medicine is a professional society representing over 3,000 physicians and associated professionals dedicated to increasing access and improving quality of addiction treatment; educating physicians and the public; supporting research and prevention; and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addictions.

About Wolters Kluwer Health

Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Serving more than 150 countries and territories worldwide, Wolters Kluwer Health’s customers include professionals, institutions and students in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy. Major brands include Health Language®, Lexicomp®, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Medicom®, Medknow, Ovid®, Pharmacy OneSource®, ProVation® Medical, and UpToDate®.

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Connie Hughes
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Wolters Kluwer Health