Drug use/misuse among health professionals

Health professionals are among special populations in need of substance use/misuse prevention and treatment services. The behavior of impaired health professionals often have dire consequences to one's social, financial, and psychological life. This presentation will outline the epidemiology of substance use/misuse among health professionals, the consequences of the problem, and treatment issues. The work of Dr. Robert Coombs of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine and other United States and international scholars will be reviewed. Cross-national policies in this field will be highlighted. Unresolved critical issues will be noted and future needed research will be suggested.