Addiction in Health Care Professionals (September/October)

Date of Issue: 09/01/2016 | Volume: 4 | Number: 7

Issue Links:Learning Objectives | Editorial Information

Due to factors such as stress and accessibility to pharmaceuticals, health care professionals are at higher risk for substance use disorders. In this issue, we help you identify the signs that a colleague or staff member may be using or diverting drugs, and feature an interview with Penelope Ziegler, MD, on treating addiction in health care professionals.

In This Issue

Article

Substance Abuse in Health Care Professionals

Topics: Addiction | Practice Tools and Tips

Ideally, an SUD in a health care provider can be recognized as early as possible, before irreparable harm comes to the provider’s career, patients, or family. Overdose and suicide are not uncommon outcomes, and efforts must be focused on preventing these as well as protecting patients.

Read More
Article

Probuphine: Promises and Problems

Topics: Addiction | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips

Ever wish you could improve treatment compliance among your patients who receive buprenorphine? Ever wish you could offer them the benefit of sublingual buprenorphine while avoiding the risk of diversion and abuse? Well, now you can—maybe.

Read More
Expert Q&A

Treating Addiction in Health Care Professionals

Topics: Addiction | Practice Tools and Tips

What changes when addressing addiction when the patient is a doctor? When you’re dealing with health care professionals, the defenses common among people struggling with substance abuse are much more sophisticated. Many times a doctor or other highly trained health professional can talk circles around substance abuse counselors. Dr. Ziegler shares her insight on treating health care professionals.

Read More
Research Update

Vilazodone Not Effective for Cannabis Dependence

Topics: Addiction | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips | Research Updates | Substance Abuse

Effective pharmacological treatments for cannabis dependence have eluded the field of addiction psychiatry. It’s not, however, due to a lack of trying. Theoretical connections between cannabinoids and the serotonin system have spurred a number of studies looking at the usefulness of SSRIs and buspirone.

Read More
Research Update

Combining Alcohol With Caffeinated Energy Drinks Leads to Increased Alcohol Consumption

Topics: Addiction | Research Updates | Substance Abuse

Combining caffeine-based energy drinks and alcohol has become a popular practice among social drinkers over the past decade. Users say that the caffeine enhances their buzz and allows them to drink for longer periods of time.

Read More