Article archive / February 2022
Originally published: . Volume 13, No. 2. Source pages: 12.
Turning to substances and addictive behaviors is at an all time high. Pressures and stresses on psychologists, physicians, and other healthcare workers are higher than ever in today’s medical environment.
Yet, substance misuse and addiction rates are no different among healthcare workers than they are in the general population. According to researchers, up to 15% of healthcare professionals will misuse substances during their lifetime. Rates of prescription drug abuse and addiction are five times higher among physicians than in the general population, researchers have found, cited by the Hazelton Betty Ford Foundation. While the stigma of addiction for doctors and other healthcare professionals is far less than it was 30 years ago, the stigma for seeking help is alive and well. With doctors and healthcare professionals the problem is compounded by an extra layer of stigma–related to the false idea that somehow we are “supposed to know“ things that others do not know and are able to avoid the human problems that others encounter. There is professional shame experienced when someone in the healthcare profession struggles with addiction. In general, healthcare professionals are held to a higher standard. And knowing much often leads to doctors treating themselves– –or not treating themselves––for conditions that are misdiagnosed. There’s an old adage that says, “Self can’t see self." This is especially so when it comes to addictive disorders. Addiction affects not only the immediate family members, but extended family, friends and co-workers. Keeping secrets, protecting the family name, and even protecting the job becomes a massive undertaking and the wave of destruction reaches far and wide. There is an enormous fear of being “found out” and losing everything that has been worked so hard for.
Many do not know where to turn for help. International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA) can be just that place to turn. According to their website (idaa.org), “The mission of IDAA is to carry the message of recovery to health care professionals and their families." The organization is described as a “worldwide fellowship” of healthcare professionals and their families whose sole purpose is to foster recovery. Membership is open to all doctoral level healthcare providers and has recently broadened membership to include physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Of course, confidentiality and anonymity are paramount. According to IDAA’s Executive Director, Robert Lindsey, the membership list is “secure and protected." Those applying for membership in IDAA go through a vetting process to insure the individual’s status as a health care provider. IDAA pledges to create and maintain a safe and secure environment so the seeds of recovery can grow and flourish. IDAA offers several avenues to connect with others. The annual meeting is held each summer. Typically, the convention starts on Wednesday evening and closes on Sunday morning. There are various breakout meetings geared to different specialties (e.g. psychologists, surgeons, internal medicine, etc.). Also, there are breakout meetings for groups such as LGBTQ+, woman in recovery, early career and a "back to work" group. Process addictions, such as gambling or sex addictions are also provided a home in IDAA. As noted above, recovery affects the entire family, so Al-anon is an integral part of IDAA. Additionally, there is programing for children ages 6-12 and teenagers 13-19. The teen program has been so popular, that graduates of that program kept going back to IDAA and started a 20’s group. Also included in the meeting’s programing are fun activities such as golf, a fun-run as well as local attractions. Further avenues to connect with others in recovery are the Cyberdocs list-serve as well as numerous Zoom meetings held around the globe. A list of these meetings is provided on the members-only portion of the website. IDAA also offers a Help Line, found on the website. Actually, the help line is not a single phone number but a net of weblinks to individuals in each state in the US and countries around the world. The Help Line is a listing of IDAA members who serve as personal contacts for healthcare professionals and their families seeking another doctor to talk with about recovery from alcoholism and/or other addictions. These member contacts also provide information on AA or Caduceus meetings in their local areas for members visiting their city. Membership is open to any doctoral level healthcare provider who desires to stay sober, employed or unemployed. Many have lost jobs as a result of their disease. It is welcoming to know that the spouse and/or children of a healthcare provider “may themselves be members even if the qualifying professional is not yet in recovery." This emphasizes the welcoming nature of IDAA and the value it places on family recovery.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.