Professionals Often Suffer In Silence With Addiction
To the surprise of many, highly respected professionals like doctors, lawyers, dentists and corporate executives are working each day as functioning alcoholics and drug addicts. In fact, recent studies have determined that licensed professionals experience depression at higher rates than any other occupation leaving them susceptible to addiction.
The professionals we rely on for our physical and financial wellbeing are not the people we picture having a problem with substance abuse, but research shows the numbers for these individuals are equal to – and in some cases, far surpass – the general population. Part of the problem for these professionals is that even if they recognize that they have a problem they are slow to seek out help. Licensed professionals are generally do not seek support for themselves because:
- They are worried their secret may jeopardize their career
- They usually are so used to helping others they are not able to accept assistance for themselves
- The perceived shame and guilt that surround addiction stops high achieving personalities from asking for help
The Rates of Addiction Among Licensed Professionals Is Higher Than Expected
A survey of human resource professionals around the US found that 67 percent thought that addiction ranked as one of the most significant problems the employees at their company face. However, only 22 percent of these same human resource professionals say their company takes a proactive stance on the topic. While the American Bar Association has approximated U.S. lawyers suffer from depression at twice the rate as the general population and substance abuse among the profession stands at three times the national average.
Britain Reports Rising Rates of Addiction Among Licensed Professionals
The problem of addiction going untreated by licensed professionals is not an issue isolated to the US. A call to action has been issued to the British government to provide aid to a large number of voiceless professionals living as functioning alcoholics. The British Medical Association has approximated nearly 7 percent of those in the healthcare field will become addicted to a substance. While even more disturbing, they estimate that doctors are three times more likely than the rest of the population to be diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, implying an extremely high rate of alcohol abuse.
Why do you think the incidence of addiction is often higher in licensed professionals than other occupations? Is there anything you can think of that may change this for the better? We welcome all your thoughts and opinions below.
