[ctbsurf]

I thought dentistry was #1 and anesthesia was #2

[deepz]

Originally Posted by zrmorgan

....from a lecture by Diana Quinlan ......

It seems to be getting worse. In years past the risk was said to 1:7 that an anesthesia provider would have a chemical dependency problem at some point in their career. It is a complex issue, beyond the easy availability.

This year Diana Quinlan says the risk is currently 1 in 5.

deepz

[athomas91]

i have heard similiar stats - and have been told by instructors of the problem...addicts come in all shapes/sizes/ages and professions...anesthesia being highly ranked due to the access...however - most of the places i have seen you do have to account for what is missing from your assigned bag at the end of the day (just like a drug charge sheet) - still i am of the firm belief that if someone is that determined to use - they will find a way....unfortunately.

[susanna]

Does anyone know why this happens exactly? High stress rate? Is anesthesia a particularly easy burn-out profession and is that why so many people turn to drugs?

[jwk]

Originally Posted by deepz

It seems to be getting worse. In years past the risk was said to 1:7 that an anesthesia provider would have a chemical dependency problem at some point in their career. It is a complex issue, beyond the easy availability.

This year Diana Quinlan says the risk is currently 1 in 5.

deepz

That really seems high - at those rates, I should have come in contact with at least 30-40 in my career, and I just don't believe that many have that problem. I have knowledge of several, but certainly nowhere near 1 in 5 or 7.

[deepz]

Originally Posted by jwk

That really seems high - at those rates, I should have come in contact with at least 30-40 in my career, and I just don't believe that many have that problem. I have knowledge of several, but certainly nowhere near 1 in 5 or 7.

Diana Quinlan is the national authority, not me. I've been surprised several times over the years to learn of addicted coworkers whom I would never have suspected.

deepz

[jwk]

Originally Posted by deepz

Diana Quinlan is the national authority, not me. I've been surprised several times over the years to learn of addicted coworkers whom I would never have suspected.

deepz

True - the couple that I've known were a total surprise to everyone. Like I said, it just seems like an awful high number. Kinda scary if it's accurate.

Anyone have a feel for whether tight drug control makes a difference (Pyxis or Omnicell machines, pharmacist in the OR, etc.) as far as detecting abusers?

[gaspassah]

i was discussing this just the other day. it doesnt matter how you get the drug, whether pyxis or other means. when there is noone to watch you administer the drug, then at the end you show someone a syringe with a blue label, how are they supposed to know what is in the stick? it could be saline for all they know. it really boils down to trust. some people just choose to abuse that trust.
d

[deepz]

Originally Posted by gaspassah

....some people just choose to abuse that trust...

Yes. And if a sense of professional responsibility has not been deeply ingrained -- internalized -- during a person's anesthesia training, no external attempts at control are likely to prevent secret self-medication. Unfortunately.

deepz

[athomas91]

i completely agree - you can place all the pyxis' etc... you want to attempt to control - but if someone wants to use that badly they WILL find a way...and it is a huge abuse of trust and power...i am surprised that there isn't some type of personality eval we had to pass prior to school in attempts to weed this out....i guess all we can do it support each other and help when we find someone who needs it..