A clinical approach to the impaired health professional

In recent years it has become abundantly clear that health professionals are at high risk for addiction to drugs and alcohol. Addiction is here defined as compulsion, loss of control, and continued use in spite of adverse consequences. Obviously health professionals with these symptoms are dangerous both to themselves and to their patients. Destigmatization at the community level, identification of addicts, intervention, and diversion into treatment are important factors in dealing with the problem. Programs for diversion and support are being developed in California for impaired physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. These are replicable elsewhere for helping impaired health professionals.