Substance Abuse Among Physicians: A Survey of Academic Anesthesiology Programs

Substance abuse: a national survey of Canadian residency program directors and site chiefs at university-affiliated anesthesia departments

“…10 Substance abuse amongst anesthesiology residents has been estimated to be as high as 1.6%. 11 Ease of access to opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances may contribute to the apparent overrepresentation of anesthesiologists with substance abuse problems. 12,13 Considerable efforts have gone towards reducing abuse of controlled substances within the specialty.…”

Addiction in Anaesthesiologists and its Implications on Anaesthesia

“…Anaesthesiologist by virtue of their work profile and easy accessibility of potentially addicting drugs are at an increased risk of drug addiction. The incidence of abuse is estimated to be around 1% in faculty members and 1.6% of residents in training programs [2]. As high as 1/4 th of the medical professionals reported for abuse are anaesthesiologists.…”

Transdermal fentanyl: Pharmacology and toxicology

“…Fentanyl is reportedly commonly abused by healthcare professionals [87] and its analogues have been implicated in several large epidemics of "heroin" poisoning [88]. Fentanyl abusers note that it produces euphoric effects that are similar to heroin [89].…”