Recovery for Healthcare Professionals
CBS News article today on the Physicians Health Program (PHP), a recovery initiative that has operated for decades in all fifty states to help doctors struggling with alcohol or drug addiction.
This same model has been adopted by other professions, most notably the pilots’ unions, whose recovery programs are based on the PHP framework. Most of these programs monitor participants for years — sometimes decades — many states and pilot unions report recovery success rates of 80–90% after five years.
While counseling and other services are also available, PHP programs are strong advocates of Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve-Step recovery programs for those in their care.
In the mid-1960s, the first hospital treatment ward dedicated to medical professionals was founded by Dr. LeClair Bissell of NYC, a pioneer in the field of addiction medicine who began her own recovery in AA. Marty Mann, the first woman to achieve long-term sobriety in New York and the founder of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), sponsored Dr. Bissell in her AA recovery, Marty supported LeClair’s recovery and advocacy efforts for decades.
The PHP programs grew directly from Dr. Bissell’s work. By the early 1970s, the American Medical Association had endorsed the PHP model, by 1980, every state had established a PHP program for physicians, supported and monitored by healthcare advocates and state agencies.
Many state nursing boards later adopted the PHP model as well, California being among the most notable.
Some consider Dr. Bissell to be the founder of what we now call the Addiction Medicine specialty, that assessment would not be incorrect. Her tireless work has saved countless lives, not only those of healthcare professionals but also the many patients who benefit from the recovery knowledge and compassion these professionals carry forward into their practice.
Recently reported by the NCAAA, ASAM, Results: Of the 27,276 physicians who received an invitation to participate, 7,288 (26.7%) completed surveys. 12.9% of male physicians and 21.4% of female physicians met diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, Abuse of prescription drugs and use of illicit drugs was rare.
Study 2024.
70% of doctors are hesitant to diagnose or recommend help for alcoholism. It is becoming a taboo subject, again. Stigma is the number one reason folks do not get help for their alcohol or drug additions. Stigma in healthca
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Alcoholism Recovery Program
The primary purpose of AA is to carry the massage of recovery to the still suffering alcoholic. By carrying the message of recovery to the greater community and professionals, those with first contact can carry the message of recovery to those in need.
AA Bay Area is an organization sustained by AA members, Groups in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Public Information and Cooperation by the Professional Community Committee members around the world.
