Recent revelation of substance abuse amongst the medical community has many in shock. In addition to the many thousands battling addiction across the United States, reports show a spike in substance-abusing nurses.
Many are in disbelief over this trend wonder if those that care for them are struggling themselves. What is the key to battling this aspect of the American addiction epidemic? How do we address substance abuse amongst those who are entrusted with treating it?
Georgia Health Practitioners Disciplined for Drug Use
Georgia is one state that has seen the devastation of substance abuse in the nursing community. In fact, according to the Georgia Board of Nursing, licensed nurses across the state have been disciplined for drug and alcohol use endangering themselves and patients. According to reports, there were 34 cases of substance abuse amongst Georgia nurses in 2011. Thus far in 2012, there have been 82 documented incidents of abuse –a shocking 64% of those cases involved prescription drugs, and majority of them involved alcohol as well.
Nurses are charged with the responsibility of proper storage and safe distribution of prescription medications which, as we know, are highly dangerous if provided to the wrong set of hands. Sadly, these Georgia nurses have been seen to be redirecting prescription substances for their own misuse.
The Board plans to hammer down on these cases and take serious action to prevent further patient endangerment in the future.
Now what should be done with the rest of the country?
Nurses Must Learn to Avoid Development of a Habit
Organizations like Narcononfreedomcenter.com promote things like drug prevention and education. Today’s medical community depends largely on the pharmaceutical industry’s production of body and mind-altering prescription drugs. Painkillers have a tremendous medical value, yet they are not without a potentially fatal price.
The profession of nursing comes with a great responsibility, and must include the ability to refrain from such abuses because one is educated on the dangers and addictive nature of the drugs. At times, this may not be an easy task—especially when surrounded by colleagues and patients who are using these drugs, and nurses are expected to handle and distribute them frequently.
Nursing education includes a basic rundown of prescription drug dangers, possible adverse effects and habit-forming potentialities. But are nurses taught to seek alternative treatments to battle their own difficulties?
Prescription Drug Abuse: Why?
Many also wonder why this community is most likely to develop a problem with prescriptions. The answer is because prescription addiction is now the fastest growing substance abuse problem in the country because of the availability of the drugs. As a result many of us are left asking: why prescriptions and even wondering why has our addiction “epidemic” evolved in this way?
Addiction is a condition borne out of a series of bad choices, due largely to biophysical dependency that alters the chemistry of the mind. People turn to drugs (whether synthetic drugs, street drugs or prescription pills) to escape unwanted feelings or emotions.
Within just a few uses of a prescription painkiller, the body develops a tolerance and a need for the drug in order to feel normal. Cessation of a painkiller can produce very uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal, thus making the addiction multi-layered in its treatability.
Nurses often undergo grueling schedules and are witness to mentally distressing patient conditions. Because of these factors, it is no surprise that doctors and nurses today considered at very high risk of prescription medication addiction.
Reports show a spike in substance-abusing nurses across the country. Be on the lookout for loved ones who might also be affected by this issue. For more information contact Narcononarrowhead.org.
Source: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/reports-show-spike-substance-abusing-nurses/nS7b8/