It is frequently said that the primary role of a state medical regulatory board is to protect the public. Unfortunately, this concept has evolved in some regions suggesting there is a conflict between patients and their physicians.[1] In other words, the message can be sent that patients must be protected from physicians. Truly there haveRead More
Learn about kratom being prohibited by the DEA and then reversing its decision and why. Should we include kratom in health professional testing? February 23, 2020 Actual Case A 37-year-old anesthesiologist participating in residential treatment for opioid use disorder went on a therapeutic leave home to another during the third month of his treatment. UponRead More
Utilizing blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in abstinence monitoring programs (particularly with health professional, airline pilot, and/or other professional monitoring) as a means to detect relapse to alcoholic beverage use is a relatively new development over the past decade. PEth is a minor metabolite of ethanol formed when an enzyme, phospholipase D (PLD), binds ethanol to phosphatidylcholineRead More
Physician health programs (PHPs) provide state disciplinary authorities (medical boards) what wellbeing committees (WCs) provide for hospital disciplinary authorities (medical executive committees). The former regarding licensure and the latter hospital privileges, both necessary for most physicians to practice. In the few states, like California, with no PHP, wellbeing committees take on added responsibilities. In statesRead More
It is not a good idea to treat someone for an illness they do not have. In fact, it could be considered unethical. We have a successful model now in the professional health world for treating addiction as an illness. And if someone has that illness they should be diagnosed and treated. And there areRead More
Whether you’re recovering from a mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD), relapse can affect your health, performance at work, and your personal life as well. Returning to work after spending some time in treatment can be daunting, and not establishing an action plan for your return could set you up for additional challenges inRead More
As an employer or upper-level manager, it’s important to understand the implications of substance abuse in the workplace so that you can ensure policies and practices promote recovery. Many businesses do not take this into consideration, as they view it as a “personal” or “outside” issue that doesn’t affect actual work performance. Unfortunately, this couldn’tRead More
“What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.” – Alice Miller, a psychologist, psychoanalyst, and philosopher Substance abuse can affect anyone, and business professionals are no exception. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental HealthRead More
Nurses have a difficult job, with long hours, little work-life balance, quick breaks, and high demands. Although nurses are typically viewed as not having many problems (after all, they’re there to help!), it’s true that substance abuse does not discriminate. Anyone can be affected, and nurses are very susceptible to problems such as these becauseRead More
Judges experience high-stress environments with lots of administrative protocols, pressures, and deadlines to meet. Judges are expected to uphold a professional, collected appearance, which can further feed into the fuel of denial if not addressed appropriately. Law schools do not stress enough the importance of maintaining mental health, which can lead a person to copeRead More
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