Risk factors for alcohol and other drug use by healthcare professionals

Abstract

Background: Given the increasingly stressful environment due to manpower shortages in the healthcare system in general, substance induced impairment among some healthcare professions is anticipated to grow. Though recent studies suggest that the prevalence of substance abuse is no higher in healthcare professionals (HPs) than the general population, given the responsibility to the public, any impairment could place the public at increased risk for errors. Few studies have ever reported predictors or risk factors for alcohol and other drug use (AOD) across a sample of HPs.

Drug consumption among medical students in São Paulo, Brazil: influences of gender and academic year

“…In addition, drug use is seen as a way to achieve better academic and work performance, a common motivation for drug use among health professionals. 14,22,39,51 These factors need to be taken in account as a whole when planning intervention strategies aimed at controlling drug use among such student populations. It is also of note that, in trying to alleviate psychological and physical stress, along with work overload, medical students and physicians have practiced self-medication.…”

Substance Use among a Sample of Healthcare Workers in Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Psychoactive substance use exists in all spheres of society (Wu 2010), including among healthcare workers (Kenna and Lewis 2008). Tobacco and alcohol use among clinicians is of particular concern, as it leads to lower rates of counseling and intervention for these substances (Frank 2007;Frank, Breyan, and Elon 2000;Oberg and Frank 2009).…”

Toxic and Immunotoxic Evaluation of Ketamine and/or Ethanol in Rats During 28 Days

“…Ethanol use as a licit drug [10,41] is generally made in combination with a heterogeneous group of illegal chemical substances known as "club drugs'', which are in constant renewal [42]. Ketamine, a prominent drug among these substances, was originally synthesized as an anaesthetic; however, because of its potential hallucinogenic effects, it has been used for recreational and illicit purposes [10,41,42].…”

“…Ketamine, a prominent drug among these substances, was originally synthesized as an anaesthetic; however, because of its potential hallucinogenic effects, it has been used for recreational and illicit purposes [10,41,42].…”

“…In the present scenario, a growing number of new psychoactive substances has been reported [8] and the common occurrence of the concomitant use of these different chemicals resulted in the concept of "polydrug" abuse [9], with ethanol as the most prevalent substance used in association with stimulants and/or hallucinogenic drugs, such as ketamine [10].…”