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Drug Abuse in Anesthesia Training Programs: Title and subTitle BreakA Survey: 1970 Through 1980 FREE

C. F. Ward, MD; Gretchen C. Ward, RN; Lawrence J. Saidman, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Anesthesia Research Laboratory, T-001 Department of Anesthesiology, La Jolla CA 92023 (Dr Ward).


JAMA. 1983;250(7):922-925. doi:10.1001/jama.1983.03340070028021
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Experience at our institution with drug dependence among anesthesia residents, coupled with a lack of published data, prompted us to survey US anesthesia training programs. Two hundred eighty-nine programs were surveyed, 247 (85.5%) responded, and 184 (74%) of these programs had at least one suspected incident of drug dependence to report. Three hundred thirty-four confirmed persons were reported, including a substantial number of instructors. Meperidine and fentanyl were the most frequently mentioned drugs. Behavior changes were frequently noted by staff personnel, and in general such changes led directly to detection. After confirmation of abuse, the majority of impaired anesthetists were referred for psychiatric care, with few in need of actual detoxification. Detailed follow-up was available for about 40% of the total; 71 persons were offered a return to their original place of employment, while 30 persons died of drug overdose. Chemical impairment may be more common than usually thought in anesthesia, perhaps in part because of drug availability.

(JAMA 1983;250:922-925)

REFERENCES

Council on Mental Health:  The sick physician: Impairment by psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism and drug dependence . JAMA 1973;;223:684-687.
Modlin HC, Montes A:  Narcotic addiction in physicians . Am J Psychiatry 1964;;121:358-365.
Duffy JC, Litin EM:  Psychiatric morbidity of physicians . JAMA 1964;;189:989-992.
Vaillant GE, Brighton JR, McArthur C:  Physicians use of mood-altering drugs . N Engl J Med 1970;;282:365-370.
Little RB:  Hazards of drug dependency among physicians . JAMA 1971;;218:1533-1535.
Bissell L, Jones RW:  The alcoholic physician: A survey . Am J Psychiatry 1976;;133:1142-1146.
Sethi BB, Manchanda R:  Drug abuse among resident doctors . Acta Psychiatr Scand 1980;; 62:447-455.
Johnson RP, Connelly JC:  Addicted physicians: A closer look . JAMA 1981;;245:253-257.
Thomas RB, Luber SA, Smith JA:  A survey of alcohol and drug use in medical students . Dis Nerv Sys 1977;;38:41-43.
Stanley TH:  Pharmacology of intravenous narcotic anesthetics , in Miller RD (ed): Anesthesia . New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1981;, chap 15, pp 425-449.
Talbott GD, Benson EB:  Impaired physicians: The dilemma of identification . Postgrad Med 1980;;68:56-64.
Hall RCW, Stickney SK, Popkin MK:  Physician drug abuser . J Nerv Ment Dis 1978;; 166:787-793.
Herrington RE, Benzer DG, Jacobson GR, et al:  Treating substance-use disorders among physicians . JAMA 1982;;247:2253-2257.
Gualtieri AC, Cosentino JP, Becker JS:  The california experience with a diversion program for impaired physicians . JAMA 1983;; 249:226-229.

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Council on Mental Health:  The sick physician: Impairment by psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism and drug dependence . JAMA 1973;;223:684-687.
Modlin HC, Montes A:  Narcotic addiction in physicians . Am J Psychiatry 1964;;121:358-365.
Duffy JC, Litin EM:  Psychiatric morbidity of physicians . JAMA 1964;;189:989-992.
Vaillant GE, Brighton JR, McArthur C:  Physicians use of mood-altering drugs . N Engl J Med 1970;;282:365-370.
Little RB:  Hazards of drug dependency among physicians . JAMA 1971;;218:1533-1535.
Bissell L, Jones RW:  The alcoholic physician: A survey . Am J Psychiatry 1976;;133:1142-1146.
Sethi BB, Manchanda R:  Drug abuse among resident doctors . Acta Psychiatr Scand 1980;; 62:447-455.
Johnson RP, Connelly JC:  Addicted physicians: A closer look . JAMA 1981;;245:253-257.
Thomas RB, Luber SA, Smith JA:  A survey of alcohol and drug use in medical students . Dis Nerv Sys 1977;;38:41-43.
Stanley TH:  Pharmacology of intravenous narcotic anesthetics , in Miller RD (ed): Anesthesia . New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1981;, chap 15, pp 425-449.
Talbott GD, Benson EB:  Impaired physicians: The dilemma of identification . Postgrad Med 1980;;68:56-64.
Hall RCW, Stickney SK, Popkin MK:  Physician drug abuser . J Nerv Ment Dis 1978;; 166:787-793.
Herrington RE, Benzer DG, Jacobson GR, et al:  Treating substance-use disorders among physicians . JAMA 1982;;247:2253-2257.
Gualtieri AC, Cosentino JP, Becker JS:  The california experience with a diversion program for impaired physicians . JAMA 1983;; 249:226-229.
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