That's because there's a lack of adequate training about drug dependency, said Dr. Talbott, pointing out that addiction medicine is only a decade-old discipline. Although drug addiction is a bona fide disease, the majority of residents don't understand how it progresses, he said. The good news is that drug addiction among physicians is highly treatable. When substance abuse is found early and treated, recovering residents are likely to be as successful as their colleagues. But recognizing and treating the problem early on may mean more than saving a colleague's career or marriage.
Experts say that it's no surprise that some residents look to drugs for support.
Demanding clinical responsibilities, intense patient relationships, exhausting hours on the wards and easy access to drugs are a potent combination. It's the attitudinal complex drilled into every resident, a sense that something like addiction can't happen to them. Like many drug abusers, Dr. Jones was a high achiever who did well in his studies. It wasn't long before he was once again drinking and smoking marijuana and taking 10 to 12 pills daily. After all, I'm trained to administer these things.