Ultimately, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Even though admitting a problem with substances may be difficult for everyone in society, there are certain factors which may further inhibit healthcare professionals from admitting to chemical dependency.
From pharmacists and dentists, to nurses and physicians, healthcare professionals are provided with so much information concerning substance abuse and addiction that many believe themselves to be “immune” from the problem. Professionals begin to believe they can “handle it” because they are aware of the issues concerning substance abuse. In order to overcome the conception of immunity from chemical dependency, healthcare professionals have to “unlearn” the assumptions before they are able admit to having a substance abuse problem (Sullivan, Bissell, & Williams, 1988).
As a society, many people believe health care professionals are supposed to and should already know better than to abuse substances. Through the years, society’s negative connotation to chemical dependency among health care professionals has resulted in discipline or dismissal of chemical dependent professionals from the healthcare setting (Darbo, 2005). Because of the stigma society has created concerning substance abuse and healthcare professionals along with the unsupportive reactions from the healthcare setting, many health care professionals are afraid to admit to having a problem. Feelings of shame and guilt develop among nurses and doctors because they are constantly surrounded by society’s stigma. Many feel that “to admit weakness or inadequacy is dangerous to the well-being of other people” (Sullivan, Bissell, & Williams, 1988).
As Addiction in the Nursing Profession states:
“Even those of our colleagues who recognize substance dependence as an illness commonly enter into the conspiracy of silence rather than risk retribution by confronting the reality and dealing with it.” (Haack, & Hughes, 1989)
Even though it may be difficult for people to admit a substance abuse problem, many people finally do admit to a having a problem. In many cases, health care professionals report a pivotal event or crisis which triggers a realization to the substance abuse problem. Losing a license to practice or putting a patient at risk for serious complicationa are events that might trigger a health care professional to recognize a problem. To the general population, the pivotal event may be also known as “hitting rock bottom.”
If someone is unsure as to whether or not they may have a substance abuse problem, there are simple self-tests available, including the CAGE test for alcoholism and the “Am I an Addict? Test created by Narcotics Anonymous, to help begin the process of admitting to a drug problem.
Once the substance abuse problem is acknowledged by the individual, the road to recovery may begin.
To hear what Rebecca Mason, RN, CNS, CEAP, has to say concerning the first step to recovery, view the VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5-MN1UPemQ
Resources:
Darbo, N. (2005). Alternative diversion programs for nurses with impaired practice:completers and non-completers. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 16(4), 169-185.
Haack, M R, & Hughes, T L. (1989). Addiction in the nursing profession. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Sullivan, E, Bissell, L, & Williams, E. (1988). Chemical dependency in nursing. Menlo Park, California: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
*To View the CAGE or MAST Test for Alcohol:
http://www.ncadd-sfv.org/symptoms/mast_test.html
https://www.merck.healthinkonline.com/merckTools/AssessMerckSourceCAGE.asp
*Other Self-Tests:
http://www.na.org/admin/include/spaw2/uploads/pdf/litfiles/us_english/IP/EN3107.pdf
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