Issues of Treatment by Profession

Addictions are often equated with unemployment and low economic status. While it’s true that some people do lose everything to their addictions, including their jobs and their savings, it’s also true that some people continue to work and achieve the outer trappings of success, all while dealing with very serious cases of addiction that threaten both their health and their happiness. People like this might be reluctant to disclose their concerns, but those who do may benefit from specialized therapies that address their specific concerns and status.

Medical Professionals

Doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses and others who work in the medical field face relentless temptations, as they may have easy access to drugs. These professionals might also be required to deal with intense schedules, sleep deprivation and the persistent sadness that comes when cases don’t resolve happily. A study of the issue in the AORN Journal found that the prevalence of addiction in nurses stands at about 10 percent, but it’s possible that many medical professionals have carefully hidden addictions that need treatment.

Since medical professionals can easily harm their patients due to their addictions, these issues are treated with a great deal of severity. When the issue comes to light, those professionals are pushed into treatment programs, and they’re encouraged to provide periodic samples that prove they’re complying with treatment. Since a slip can result in a loss of a medical license and perhaps a loss in an ability to earn a living, many providers are able to stick with therapy. They have a prompt that makes them compliant.

These professionals may not want to engage in therapies in the general arena, however, as they may worry that they’ll run into former patients or current colleagues. Enrolling in an executive program, or just choosing a program that’s located out of state, could be an ideal way to ensure that the person’s reputation stays intact.

Lawyers and Other Professionals

While the average lawyer or executive may not have easy access to powerful drugs, these people might also feel pressured to:

• Bring in a specific number of patients/cases each month
• Beat other competitors in terms of skill and prowess
• Manage reluctant employees
• Please shareholders

Again, the pressure can mount and that can lead to intense substance use and abuse. Therapies can help these professionals to set boundaries and learn to refuse offers that provide them with too much stress, but since these professionals have unique concerns that might not apply to the average addict, they might also benefit from enrolling in executive drug rehab programs. In these programs, they’ll have access to understanding peers that can provide vital support and problem-solving techniques.

Some professionals take this idea one step further and enroll in programs that are specific to their profession. Lawyers, for example, might choose to enroll in assistance programs provided by the bar association in their state. The Lawyer Assistance Program in California, for example, offers individual counseling, peer support and group work that is specifically tailored to meet the needs of members of the legal profession. This could be just the type of targeted help some professionals need in order to beat their addictions.

If you’d like to know more about tailored programs just like this, please contact us. We can tell you about Foundations Recovery Network programs that might be just right.