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If you are a doctor, a dentist or, indeed, anyone who works in healthcare, and you think you might be in difficulties with alcohol or drug addiction, this page is for you. Your anticipated questions are answered below. [NB The only link to this page is on the Home Page. If you want to return to it after viewing other pages you should note its name (www.acorns.uk.net/docden) and type it into the address bar or go to the Home Page and return from there.] Why do you have a special page for me? You must know that anyone in your position who is seen to have a problem with alcohol or drugs is almost certainly going to be suspended from their work if the problem comes to light. If your colleagues become aware of your situation they have a duty to make your problem known to your professional controlling body (GMC or GDC) as well as informing your PCT. If you think these organizations will take a kindly and supportive approach then you are likely to be disappointed. Our experience has been that they will waste no time in stopping you practising. You can't blame them for this since you could well be putting your patients' lives at risk. Of course, you won't think you are likely to damage your patients but if you look at the situation honestly, we think you will see that there is more than an element of justification in that view. Unfortunately, PCTs often try to get rid of you altogether. This attitude by the profession's moderators is largely a post-Shipman thing but they are anxious not to be seen to have been 'soft' on you. And if you are returned to work and then relapse and cause some catastrophe, it would not be good for their reputation. While you continue to work you are a potential danger; sacked, you represent no risk at all. Politics must feature in these decisions, I'm afraid. How is Acorns Outreach different? We are not bound by the same requirements to 'blow the whistle' on you. That does not mean that we can condone your actions. After all, we are aware of our moral obligations too, but we will be supportive and understanding of your condition. After all, we suffer from the same illness so we know how you feel. We also know that a fantastic recovery can be achieved in a short time. If you do not get expert help for your problem you will almost certainly find yourself in one or more of the following situations:
Don't think these are scare tactics. We have clients who have experienced many of these harrowing ordeals. Of course, there are all the other disasters and degradations like losing your domestic partner and children, divorce, having to sell your house, hospitalization, living in a hostel, etc., etc., etc. We suggest that you take action for your own benefit before someone takes action against you. If you are already in trouble, we may still be able to help. Telephone and tell us your problem. We have experience of these situations and our intervention has, on occasion, kept people out of prison. How will you be able to help? First of all, we will treat your case with absolute confidentiality. When you contact us you can just use your first name or even use a nickname if you feel afraid to give your real name — although you can be assured that we would never divulge any information to anyone without your consent. We can offer you expert treatment while you continue as a practitioner. We do this by working with you to find mutually convenient times when we can meet and help you. This could possibly include evenings or weekends. Because we have doctors and dentists as ex-clients in recovery, we can put you in touch with people in your own profession who will be willing to share their experiences with you — but only if that is what you want. This would be totally discreet, confidential and anonymous and we are sure you would find it enormously helpful but you are certainly not obliged to do this. [The
following may be of interest to you: What will I have to do? Remember that alcohol and other mind-altering drugs change the way we think. This is why we use them. While our brains are taken over by these chemical compounds, we do not think rationally, despite what you might want to believe. The brutal truth is that while you are using these substances you are not in a fit state to practise your profession. At the beginning you are strongly advised to take a little time off work to get yourself sorted out. During this period you can have your drug-of-choice physically removed from your system (detox). This time away from work will not only help to give you a good start but it will also demonstrate that you are taking your problem and its attendant risks seriously. Do not think that you are doing anything underhand or devious; you are suffering from a real illness which will prove fatal if you continue. Unfortunately, your professional position could allow you to harm or even kill others as well. You would never forgive yourself if this were to happen. Sending in a sick-note for the depression you will undoubtedly be suffering from could be seen as one of the first of a set of new, clean, sober and sensible decisions you are going to make from now on. We will help you through all of this. You will need to attend Acorns Outreach for two sessions of about 1½ – 2 hours each per week for a period of 13 weeks. If you find you must miss an odd session, we can usually accommodate you by making some alternative arrangement. These are one-to-one discussions where you will be helped to understand your problem and you will learn how to deal with it. For those so far outside our area that travelling will be impracticable, we may be able to organize telephone sessions although this would be a last resort. You will not be able to overcome your difficulties without expert help. We also have a group of similar professionals to yourself who meet one evening a week for mutual support and discussion (The Acorns Group meeting). They are all ex-clients and the group is completely anonymous. Attendance at this meeting is entirely voluntary although we would strongly advise that you use this group to help your recovery. After your treatment has finished, you will have the right to continue to be a part of this meeting for as long as you wish. How much will it cost? We would expect you to travel to us when the cost of a course of treatment is £2,600. Acorns Outreach provides all relevant literature. This is a small price to pay to retain your professional status. It probably represents a fraction of what any alcoholic drinks in a year and is, in our experience, almost certainly less than you will be fined if you are discovered self-prescribing. But it is insignificant when compared with the financial loss accompanying your being deregistered. This is the best £2,600 you will ever spend. [In the unlikely event that we have to travel to you, we will have to add travelling expenses. We are based in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, so you will be able to make a fair estimate of the the amount of travel involved. Costs will be calculated on an ad hoc basis and will be based on a consideration of both distance and time.] I find it hard to believe anyone can help me — I've tried to stop so often and I always fail. I'm really scared and depressed all the time. Of course you are. Addiction is an illness characterized by uncontrollable fear and despair and yet, perversely, there is usually complete denial that there is a problem until you come to the point when you can't deny it any longer. Unfortunately, that often coincides with being caught out. We all feel this way until we get help. You cannot do this alone and isolated, which is how you feel now. I have to tell you that untreated, your illness will get progressively worse and, although it will tell you that this might be true for others but it is not going to happen to you, I guarantee that it will. Here are the things you can do immediately:
© Acorns Outreach 02 May 2008 — all rights reserved |
