Physicians with substance abuse problems and their recovery environment: a survey

Area of Science:

• Addiction medicine
• Social psychology

Background:

• Social support is vital for individuals recovering from chemical dependency and at risk of relapse.
• Concerns exist among healthcare professionals that physicians in recovery may avoid 12-step groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To confirm findings from a previous study on recovering physicians in Atlanta.
• To investigate the importance of 12-step programs as a support system for a more heterogeneous group of recovering physicians in Colorado.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire, mirroring the one used in the Atlanta study, was administered to recovering physicians in Colorado.
• The study focused on a physician group with varied treatment experiences to ensure broader applicability.

Main Results:

• Similar to the Atlanta cohort, many Colorado physicians rated 12-step programs as more critical to their recovery than treatment professionals or family.
• Physicians reported affiliative feelings towards 12-step program members comparable to those felt towards close non-members.

Conclusions:

• Twelve-step programs serve as a significant source of social support for chemically dependent physicians during recovery.
• While important, 12-step programs do not meet the support needs of every chemically dependent physician in recovery.