Addiction is a disease, not an illness like the flu or common cold. As a result, you don’t get over it from a few days of bed rest or a short course of antibiotics. Those battling substance abuse often undergo multiple courses of treatment and that treatment is best left to the pros.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 23.6 million Americans age 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem, but only 10.8 percent of them received treatment at a facility specializing in the treatment of substance abuse disorders.

A professional treatment program staff has the experience to properly assess an individual, determine if detox is needed, recommend an appropriate treatment plan customized to the individual and uncover any co-occurring issues such as trauma, depression, past sexual or physical abuse or bipolar that may contribute to addiction.

Once that assessment has been completed, decisions can be made regarding appropriate treatment, from a residential program to an intensive outpatient treatment program. Not all treatment facilities offer every level of care, so it’s important to get an assessment from a professional who can direct you to the right program for your specific needs.

Once you’re in a treatment program, the professionals there can help you assess your progress, determine the most appropriate length of stay and help with after-care plans that give you the best chance at long-term sobriety.

La Paloma Treatment Program

If you or someone you love is battling an addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Professionals who work in the fields of mental health and substance abuse (especially those who deal with dual disorders and confront both on a daily basis) are at a particularly high risk for professional burnout. A phenomenon known as “compassion fatigue” can occur when the pressure from their daily work begins to erode their outlook and attitude, interfering with their personal life and overall well-being.

Tips to avoiding burnout:

1. Work as part of a team rather than in an isolated situation
2. Take time to “debrief” with fellow staffers handling similar cases (using these opportunities to discuss
   feelings and issues related to this taxing work)
3. Avoid taking on too strenuous of a caseload. You’ll be no good to any of your clients if you’re too overwhelmed to serve them well.
4. Develop a healthy support network.
5. Make sure you schedule time to rest and relax.
6. Keep a distinct separation between work and personal time.

Quality programs like those at La Paloma proactively address the issue of burnout among staff to lessen turnover and improve care for all.

The Discovery Center for Professionals at La Paloma in Memphis, Tenn., is one such program. Rated by Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center as in the Top 5 percent of co-occurring disorder treatment facilities in the U.S., La Paloma’s program has been called the “gold standard.” Using evidence-based treatment strategies taken from 11 federally funded research studies, their clinical program is fully integrated, offering simultaneous treatment for addiction and mental health disorders.

To find out more about this problem and the specific issues of treating professionals, we went straight to the source: Paige Bottom, CEO of La Paloma Treatment Center.

Question: Why are addiction rates so much higher in professionals?

Bottom: Because of the increased stress levels associated with certain jobs, business professionals are more likely to experience a high rate of chemical dependency and mental health issues as co-occurring disorders.

Question: What types of jobs are included in this group?

Bottom: The jobs include physicians, nurses and other health practitioners, as well as attorneys, executives and other professionals.

Question: How does La Paloma’s Discovery Program address these issues?

Bottom: In the Discovery Program, we believe that healing the body, mind and spirit requires a comprehensive plan of recovery for the professional client and the individual’s family. This process begins with a comprehensive evaluation and continues with specialized and individualized treatment, addressing the unique needs of the client.

Question: What does that include?

Bottom: Depending on the client, the Discovery Program services may include medically managed detox, partial hospitalization, residential and/or intensive outpatient services. Services at these levels of care could also include individual, group or family therapy as well as trauma resolution, professionals peer support and assistance, a professionals focus group, adjunct/integrative therapies and more.

Question: What about the special needs of professionals whose jobs require licensing that their addiction may have put in jeopardy?

Bottom: Our treatment for professionals may also include specialty reporting to licensing and other regulatory bodies monitoring certain professionals.

“Having a coexisting psychiatric illness or family history of a substance use disorder or having used a major opioid are key factors that can increase the likelihood of a substance use disorder relapse among healthcare professionals,” according to a study in the March 2008 issue of JAMA.

The prevalence of chemical dependency (excluding nicotine) among physicians has been estimated to be 10 percent to 15 percent. While that number is similar to chemical dependency rates in the general population, it can be easier for doctors to hide their addiction because of their accessibility to legal drugs. Of those medical professionals who do seek treatment for their addiction and complete a program, the study showed that recovery is best achieved through continuing group therapy and regular attendance at mutual help groups.

Possibility of Releapse

In the study of 292 health care professionals enrolled in the Washington Physicians Health Program, Karen B. Domino, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington, Seattle and her colleagues conducted a study to identify factors that might predispose individuals to relapse. Here are some of their more interesting findings:

• Twenty-five percent had at least 1 relapse.
• A family history of a substance use disorder increased the risk of relapse 2.3 times.
• The use of a major opioid increased the risk of relapse significantly in the presence of a coexisting psychiatric disorder (5.8 times increased risk) but not in the absence of a coexisting psychiatric disorder.
• The presence of all three factors — major opioid use, dual diagnosis (presence of a coexisting psychiatric disorder) and family history — increased the risk of relapse 13.3 times.