Effective components of treatment for the chemically dependent physician

Physicians with substance use disorders have been documented throughout history. In 1973 the American Medical Association (AMA) acknowledged that physicians suffered from addiction with a landmark policy paper and subsequent Physician Health Conference. Since that time extensive information has been collected regarding the evaluation and treatment of physicians who have the disease of addiction. It is estimated that addiction affects ten percent of the current physician population. Effective treatment for these individuals centers around the fact that addiction is a chronic disease. Treatment initially requires intensive care for stabilization, education, and denial reduction. Ongoing treatment is then needed to help solidify gains made in primary treatment, modify self-care behaviors and attitudes, and to hopefully prevent relapse.