Anesthesiology and drug addiction

Abstract

Prevalence of drug addiction and alcoholism among anesthesiologists has been reported to be around 2%. Most frequently utilized drugs are phentanyl and other opioids, diazepam, alcohol, inhaled anesthetics, ketamine, barbiturates, sulphentanyl, cocaine, morphine and heroine. Besides risk factors that are common to the whole population (genetic predisposition, environmental exposure, stress and lack of education, preventive programs and control strategies), there are others peculiar to anes. thesiologists: availability of drugs, self. prescription and permissivenes of colleagues. Objectives of treatment are: to achieve detoxification and a drug-free life, to recuperate the social and occupational aspects of life, to adhere to interdisciplinary schemes of treat. ment with long.term goals, to enter support and psychotherapy groups, to identify and treat underlying psychiatric disorders and, if neces. sary, to utilize antagonist drugs.