Drug abuse in the workplace can be a big concern in any occupation, but what about when the addict is a doctor, or more specifically, an anesthesiologist? Some may think that this group of employees should understand the risks and dangers of controlled substances better than anybody. After all, they deal with these drugs everyday and have studied them in depth.

This may be the exact reason some doctors are able to successfully support a drug habit without getting caught. They have easy access to the drugs, being around the drugs every day may lead to cravings for the drug, they see the positive results patients experience with the drugs, and they know the symptoms of drug abuse and how to hide them without getting caught.

Anesthesiologists and drug abuse

A recent study examined the risk of anesthesiologists being exposed to low levels of drugs through patients exhaling them or through the skin. While more studies are being done on this subject, it could be said that just the constant presence of the substances near a person could easily drive them to try it. Many anesthesiologists who are addicts started using drugs when they were under the stress of their residency training period and were not experienced enough with their profession to say “no” to the temptation to try a drug. It’s easy to become addicted to such powerful drugs, and it often doesn’t work to “just try it once”.

Even though the statistics are low- as few as 2% of anesthesiologist residents abuse substances- the drugs that they do use are usually some of the most powerful intravenous drugs around. This often leads to death because of the strong substances and addictive nature of them. A few additional problems result from anesthesiologists using drugs: being so educated about controlled substances, anesthesiologists may be more able to cheat on drug tests to keep from getting caught. The chances of an anesthesiologist making it through treatment and going back to their work are not very good; 1 out of 9 will end up dying from relapse and subsequent addiction. And the public safety issue is very concerning – how do we ensure that those responsible for our lives are sober when treating us?

Solutions for hospitals

Some hospitals have measures in place to catch drug abuse among staff, including urine drug tests and strict monitoring of controlled substances being taken out of stock. While these may be useful tools to help keep people honest, some would argue that the thing hospitals need to focus on is prevention of the problem. Education and training should include drug addiction awareness, and stress reduction practices should be taught. Perhaps if we focus on the well-being of individuals before they feel the need to turn to substances we can prevent the abuse in the first place.

Cox, Lauren Urine Drug Tests for Doctors? Nov. 12, 2008

O’Brien, Keith Something, anything to stop the pain 11/9/08

Vogler, Mark Former Lawrence General Hospital nurse gets 41 years in federal prison Nov. 20, 2008

Getting the right help for the individual is essential to successfully treating addiction. Getting help for the family of the individual is also very important, and it is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Everyone in a family suffers when a member has an addiction to substances. Help is out there, and below are some resources designed to treat the family members of addicts.

Spouses of Addicts

Oftentimes, spouses understand more than anybody about how an addict is suffering. Whether the couple had a healthy relationship before the addiction took over or not, the other adult in the household can see what both the addict and the family are sacrificing because of the addiction.
Al-Anon holds regular meetings throughout the country to encourage families of alcoholics to focus on their own peace of mind and strength. Nar-Anon, like Al-Anon, focuses on the Twelve Steps to healing for family members. Nar-Anon helps families of individuals addicted to narcotics, and it also holds free meetings throughout the country.

Co-Dependents Anonymous is another support group for spouses. Because of the stress that addiction can put on a couple, often the spouse of an addict develops an unhealthy co-dependence in an attempt to hold it all together. Co-Dependents Anonymous helps individuals to free themselves from destructive behavior and if possible live their lives with their spouse, but not dependent on them.

Parents of Addicts

Adolescents addicted to drugs pose a difficult problem. Being so young, it is important that the child and their family get help for the addiction right away so the teen can look forward to a life free from this suffering. Adolescents are usually still living in their parents’ homes and under their rules, so it is especially important for parents to be informed about the methods of treatment and ways to help their child when they are back home.

The Phoenix House is a New England-based coalition of professionals that work together to provide treatment for young addicts as well as counseling for the entire family. Parental involvement is key to these programs and education, activities, and therapy are provided for entire families.

Inspirations for Youth and Family is another organization that treats adolescents for drug and alcohol abuse. Families are also provided with therapy and activities that work toward the goal of reuniting the family.

Children of Addicts

Not to be overlooked, children in a family with addiction also suffer and should receive treatment. The Center on Addiction and the Family (COAF) offers a wide range of programs that help the whole family deal with addiction, some specifically geared toward children. Alateen offers meetings for teens of alcoholics, much like Al-Anon. Even though they might not have a very large voice when it comes to addiction in the family, children are very much in need of counseling or treatment as they suffer with a loved-one’s addiction.

Families have many options to getting treatment as they deal with an addict among them. It is important to reach out for help from professionals in order to free themselves from the addiction.

More Resources
http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/families-addiction-treatment.html

drug addiction support groups

• Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.)
• Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.)
• Crystla Meth Anonymous (C.M.A.)
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA)

other addiction support resources

• Find an AA Meeting Near You
• AA Meetings Online
• Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
• Find an MA Meeting Near You
• Find an NA Meeting Near You
• Nicotine Anonymous
• Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

Families of drug or alcohol abusers go through a lot of painful feelings as they struggle with their loved ones’ addiction. Sometimes these family members are overlooked as help is being offered to the person with the drug or alcohol problem. New initiatives have been formed in recent years that focus on a family approach to addiction treatment, and it has proven to be a benefit to not only the addict, but also to his or her family as well. Support groups have also been organized that help family and friends deal with those with addictions.

Support for Spouses of Addicts

It has been said that alcoholism is a family disease, affecting the entire family. Perhaps spouses are the first to notice a problem with addiction, and their lives may change the most. A once-loving spouse and parent to their kids becomes withdrawn, depressed, unreliable, and hard to spend time with. It is very painful to watch someone you love wreck themselves over substances.

Support for Parents of Addicts

Parents go through much pain also as they watch a child struggle with addiction. Feelings of helplessness, failure, and embarrassment are common in these situations, and often parents question where they went wrong and don’t know how to fix it.

Support for Children of Addicts

Children, however, may often suffer the most. To not have the parent around to care for them properly or to spend time with them takes its toll on children. Abuse and neglect commonly go along with parents that do drugs or are alcoholics, and these kids suffer greatly. It is common for these kids to go on to abuse substances themselves one day.

Al-Anon

Because addiction has such a strong effect on the family of an addict, it is important for families to receive support themselves. Al-Anon and Alateen (for younger family members) offer help and hope to addicts’ families. Al-Anon holds regular meetings throughout the country for family members to share their experiences, learn from other people’s stories, and be encouraged to find their own strength and happiness.

Family Addiction Therapy

Many drug and alcohol treatment facilities also offer help to families and encourage family therapy. This offers benefits to family members, and it may improve treatment for the addict. Often, families can provide support and resources to help the addict live without the substance. Sometimes the family is even motivation for an abuser to succeed in treatment, such as a mother who works extra hard to overcome addiction in order to be with her children again.

For those family members suffering in silence while a loved-one abuses drugs or alcohol, there is help out there for both the addict and the family. It is important to encourage the addict to get treatment and counseling to overcome the addiction. It is also important for the family to seek counseling or treatment in order to move on with their lives. And even if the drug addict or alcoholic won’t free themselves from the substance, their family members can and should get help so they aren’t left suffering alone with the problem.

Sources
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/english.html

Holland, Ryan Substance abuse cuts wide, deep November 16, 2008

Addiction Treatment Should Include Family Therapy

For some people this time of year is, quite honestly, a struggle. It’s not just the hurry of the approaching holidays, or the long list of things to do, or the colder weather. For some people it is actually the decrease in daylight hours that cause their mood swings, and it can be very debilitating. It’s called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it affects half a million Americans today.

Symptoms

Sufferers of SAD feel an overwhelming feeling of the “blues”, lethargy, hopelessness, anxiety, social withdrawal, and change in appetite. Sounds like depression, doesn’t it? The fact is that SAD is a recognized form of depression, only it comes in cycles along with the climate changes. During summer days that are bright and warm, these SAD sufferers feel happy and can function normally. But when the days are shorter and cloudier and colder, these individuals feel the depression setting in and lose interest in things, often wanting to stay in bed for days on end.

Mechanisms

SAD has been said to be caused by lack of sunlight hitting brain receptors that tell the body to sleep or wake up. A new study suggests that it is an actual mutation in a gene that is responsible for SAD. This gene regulates a pigment in the eye that controls hormone levels and sleep, and without it functioning properly, low levels of sunlight exaggerate problems in the body. Low levels of serotonin then occur, which lead to instability in mood. This theory is also backed up by the statistic that SAD seems to run in families, which also suggest a genetic factor.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Another concern with SAD is that sufferers will sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their minds and pick them up, but this only adds to the problem. Sometimes it becomes a vicious cycle – the person feels bad for using drugs or alcohol, which depresses their mood even more.

Treatment

There are things that can be done about SAD and some people are able to manage it on their own. Joining a gym and exercising, or getting out and socializing rather than sleeping may be easier said than done, but will actually help the mind and body get moving again. It may seem easier to stay in bed and sleep it off, but the best thing to do is to stay active and keep the mind busy with good things.

For those that have a more severe form of SAD, or have been suffering for a long time, therapy or treatment by a professional may be necessary. Antidepressants may be prescribed, or phototherapy may be in order, which exposes the patient to artificial lights in order to stimulate the brain. Hormone treatments and psychotherapy may be other ways a physician will choose to treat SAD. The good news is that when the weather turns nicer and the days are longer, most SAD patients recover well and are able to live life again, and with help, this disorder can be overcome.

Breakthroughs tips and trends: November 7th

Conwell, Vikki De-stress to fight off seasonal depression The Atlanta Journal-Constitution November

Klockenga, Janet Your winter survival plan 10/27/08

Baker, Eliot As days shorten and skies darken, sufferers of SAD gear up to fight winter blues October 30, 2008

Dirk Hanson Shining New Light on Addiction SAD phototherapy may help with alcoholism September 29, 2007

Michigan Drug Law Votes

Michigan voters have recently joined with other states in voting to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. In a Proposal that was voted on last week by the public, lawmakers have pushed to allow seriously or terminally ill patients to use marijuana as prescribed by a physician for medical purposes only. These patients, under the Medical-Marijuana Proposal, will also be able to grow and possess limited amounts in order to create a supply for their medical use. 12 other states currently have the same allowance of marijuana for medical purposes.

Advocates to this proposal include the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, the Michigan Nurses Association and other public health associations, mainly because they have seen the medical benefits of marijuana in very sick patients. Many would argue that no other legal medication can provide the relief that marijuana can give when an individual is suffering from a long-term illness. Supporters of this measure see this as a victory for patients and their families who are struggling to be heard.

Those opposed to the proposal, however, include law-enforcement, anti-drug organizations, and groups like Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Kids. These groups and individuals believe that acts like this one are making enforcement of anti-drug laws more and more difficult, and creating setbacks for our nation’s anti-drug campaigns.

Massachusetts Drug Law Votes

Massachusetts also passed a measure this week that would lesson the punishment for possession of marijuana of less than one ounce in that state. Currently, offenders can be penalized with fines up to $500 and also 6 months jail time for simple possession of the drug. It seems that both sides of the issue in this state have many of the same views as those in Michigan. Either marijuana is seen as a real benefit to those physically suffering, or the legalizing of it would go against all we tell the public and our kids about the risks of drugs.

California Drug Law Votes

Voters in California also had their say in their state’s Proposition 5, the Non-violent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA). The majority of voters turned this Act down. The measure would have given more funding for the treatment of substance addiction and offenders would be more likely to go to a drug treatment facility than to prison. Those opposed to the Act voted against it because they believe, in part, that an addict and his or her family have to want to get treatment for the addiction, and not have it imposed as a punishment. Those in favor of NORA include some healthcare providers and others that see an overwhelming need to get some of these addicts into treatment any way they can.

Through the voting that took place last week, individuals in many of our states were given the chance to give their opinion regarding drug laws. Different people had their reasons for voting the way they did, but the important thing for us to remember is that we need to keep working toward eliminating illegal drug use and substance addiction, and that help is out there for those suffering with addiction.

Karoub, Jeff Voters approve medical marijuana November 05, 2008

Helmuth, Eric Calif. Prop 5 Defeated, Marijuana Initiatives in Mass. and Mich. Pass
November 5, 2008

Billy, Michael Michigan Voters Legalize Medical Marijuana, Massachusetts Loosens Penalties Nov. 5, 2008

Mich. Voters Lean Toward Legalization of Medical Marijuana
September 29, 2008

A new study published November 5th in the Journal of the American Medical Association seems to show that addicted teens that are treated long-term with detoxification medications, including buprenorphine and naloxone, respond better than those treated for a short time. The drugs that were used in this study are two medications that were approved in 2002 by the FDA for the treatment of opioid addiction. Only about 7,000 physicians in the country are registered as potential providers of these drugs, and even less of that number will administer them to young people.

Opiate Detoxification Medications

Buprenorphine is a medication that significantly reduces the cravings of opioids. When combined with naloxone, an opioid antagonist, the results seem to be even better. Naloxone reduces or prevents the effects of drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers, making them much less desirable to the addict. Naloxone also prevents the patient from misusing the buprenorphine combination because those that would try to inject the drug for a high (instead of taking it orally as prescribed) would suffer severe withdrawal symptoms.

While these medications have been used for adults in many instances, there has been little research on the effectiveness among young people addicted to opioids. The overall number of adolescents that abuse drugs has decreased since 2002, and while this is a very positive trend, the number of painkillers and opioids abused among teens has increased.

Study on Treating Adolescents

Dr. David A. Fiellin of the Yale University School of Medicine reports that as many as 10 percent of ninth graders have used opioids, and that 200,000 to 400,000 adolescents have abused some of these drugs. It seems that drugs are even more readily available to teens today than alcohol, as teens are able to order drugs online or steal them from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Often drug addiction starts as a fun thing that teens try, and ends up as a lifetime of dependence on the substance.

The study done by Dr. George Woody of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychiatry is one of the first of its kind. As was reported this week, researchers found that those teens that were put on a buprenorphine/naloxone combination (Suboxone) for an extended period of time (12 weeks or longer) were more likely to stay opioid free than those only given the medication for a short period of time. When taken off the medication, the drug use went up. Even with detoxification and counseling, the individuals that were taken off the Suboxone were back to using drugs in a short period of time.
While more research needs to be done on this topic, it seems that Dr. Woody and his team of researchers have shown that Suboxone is an effective treatment in the addiction of opioids when used for an extended period of time. There are those that disagree with the use of drugs to treat drug addiction, but if it means these adolescents have a chance to continue their life free of opioid addiction, many think these more drastic measures are worth taking.

Sources

Reinberg, Steven Extended Therapy Helps Drug-Addicted Teens November 4, 2008

Carver, Alice Extended Therapy for Young Opioid Addicts Better than Short Term Detox, Study November 5, 2008

Opiate Detox

Some scientists in Great Britain have recently recommended that the drug ecstasy be downgraded in that country from a Class A drug to a Class B drug. This topic has been very heated among scientists, the government, and those that spend their lives to treating drug addiction.
Ecstasy is MDMA, a mind-altering drug that is popular among teens and those that frequent nightclubs and raves. It gives the user a boost of energy, and also produces feelings of exhilaration and excitement. But ecstasy also causes confusion and anxiety and can cause the user to suffer from disruptions in body temperature and hydration, leading to possible organ failure and, in rare cases, death.

Great Britain’s Drug Classification Scale

The U.K. has followed a classification system for drugs since 1971. The system currently lists ecstasy in the most dangerous Class A, the same grouping as the United States’ Schedule I for drugs. These classifications give the government a way to enforce penalties and for citizens to be aware of the risks of certain drugs. For example, Class B drugs are considered more harmful than Class C, but less harmful than Class A. Penalties for possession of these drugs vary with class. Ecstasy now carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, while downgrading it to Class B would mean a maximum of 5 years in prison and a lower fine.

In Favor of the Downgrade

Those in favor of the downgrade include Professor Colin Blakemore, the chief executive of the Medical Research Council, and Professor David Nutt, the president of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Their 2007 study listed ecstasy as the 18th most dangerous out of the 20 popular drugs studied, listing it lower than tobacco and alcohol. Both of these individuals say that ecstasy has caused far fewer deaths than the other Class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. To have it be in the same class, they say, discredits the whole class system. Some supporters of the downgrade also say that ecstasy is not as big of a public safety issue as many other substances because it does not usually cause the aggression or violence of other drugs, making the user less harmful to those around them.

Against the Downgrade

There are plenty of people that believe ecstasy should stay in Class A. Opponents of the downgrade say that there are numerous cases of bodily harm or death due to ecstasy, and by declassifying it the government is telling people it is not harmful. Opponents want the British government to continue to hand down strict penalties for those who misuse drugs. Those that spend long hours trying to get people off of drugs such as ecstasy are pushing to keep this drug in Class A to deter more people from using it, and in order to free the country from illegal drug use.

Sources
NIDA InfoFacts: MDMA (Ecstasy)

Jenkins, Adrian Expert slams ecstasy move

Knapton, Sarah Ecstasy could be downgraded to class B drug 9-17-08

Johnston, Philip Scientist in call to downgrade ecstasy and LSD Nov 24 2006