Substance abuse among medical trainees: current problems and evolving resources

Substance abuse among medical students and residents, while not new, has increased in frequency, appears earlier, and is more apt to involve illicit drugs. In addition to these pathological changes, certain mental health resources for medical students have declined (although there is considerable variability from one location to another). These changes have stimulated certain innovative approaches to such problems. Both these recent problems as well as recent responses for dealing with them are presented.