Episode 17: Looking for Relief in the Wrong Places — Steve Adelman, MD MedPEP
-
- Medicine
Dr. Steve Adelman, founder of MedPEP and director of the physician health
program in Massachusetts, has a frank discussion with Marie and Les about
physicians’ use of addictive substances like alcohol and marijuana. In this
era of stress, burnout, and medical “battle fatigue,” doctors may be
especially susceptible to numbing themselves with substances that have the
potential to impede their performance. Steve’s perspective is that
physicians are safety-sensitive professionals who are responsible for the
health of the public. Consequently, they have an ethical obligation to stay
above reproach by avoiding problematic use of psychoactive substances.
Physicians with a history of problematic substance use should abstain;
others should consider practices like “clean margin drinking,” a
minimalistic approach that is fleshed out with specifics. Marie
acknowledges that sometimes physicians cross the line in the name of
celebration or stress relief. Steve points out that physicians are at risk
because they have easy access to controlled substances and may also resist
seeking professional help despite needing it. Marie and Steve discuss a
specific case involving a patient whose therapist appeared impaired during
a psychotherapy session. A guiding principle is that the safety of the
public should never be compromised. Les asks Steve to comment on the use of
marijuana by physicians. Steve focuses on the downside, advising licensed
health professionals to avoid marijuana altogether. He links this MedPEP
episode to earlier podcasts by suggesting that health professionals should
avoid misusing substances; instead, we should focus on improving our
self-care with diet, exercise, meditation, and better work/life balance,
all of which may counter personal and professional burnout, and preserve
our careers.
Dr. Steve Adelman, founder of MedPEP and director of the physician health
program in Massachusetts, has a frank discussion with Marie and Les about
physicians’ use of addictive substances like alcohol and marijuana. In this
era of stress, burnout, and medical “battle fatigue,” doctors may be
especially susceptible to numbing themselves with substances that have the
potential to impede their performance. Steve’s perspective is that
physicians are safety-sensitive professionals who are responsible for the
health of the public. Consequently, they have an ethical obligation to stay
above reproach by avoiding problematic use of psychoactive substances.
Physicians with a history of problematic substance use should abstain;
others should consider practices like “clean margin drinking,” a
minimalistic approach that is fleshed out with specifics. Marie
acknowledges that sometimes physicians cross the line in the name of
celebration or stress relief. Steve points out that physicians are at risk
because they have easy access to controlled substances and may also resist
seeking professional help despite needing it. Marie and Steve discuss a
specific case involving a patient whose therapist appeared impaired during
a psychotherapy session. A guiding principle is that the safety of the
public should never be compromised. Les asks Steve to comment on the use of
marijuana by physicians. Steve focuses on the downside, advising licensed
health professionals to avoid marijuana altogether. He links this MedPEP
episode to earlier podcasts by suggesting that health professionals should
avoid misusing substances; instead, we should focus on improving our
self-care with diet, exercise, meditation, and better work/life balance,
all of which may counter personal and professional burnout, and preserve
our careers.