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from the editor’s desk T
Ben Williams read in Trends. —Ben Williams, Editor
he main feature this month deals with a tough topic: addiction. Many of us have known someone who has abused alcohol or drugs, and it is never an easy sub- ject to address. In the veterinary practice, addicts may have access to controlled substances, which complicates the problem even further, because not only are
they harming themselves, but they also harm the practice and take resources away from patients who really need these medications. The point of this article—the first in a two-part series—is to draw attention to the
problem of addiction in the veterinary world. An exclusive AAHA survey shows that more than half of veterinarians have worked with someone who has a substance abuse problem. The second article in the series will reveal the rest of the survey results. Other, albeit controversial, studies have shown that veterinarians have a higher
rate of suicide than people in other professions. But one thing is for sure: This is a high-stress field. The high level of stress that comes with the job can sometimes outweigh the satisfaction that veterinary care providers also feel. That stress, coupled with an addiction-prone person, can be catastrophic. The veterinary practice boards of some states like Colorado and Florida have con-
tracted with assistance programs to help assess, monitor and support veterinarians with various problems, including substance abuse. Our hope is that raising awareness of this problem will help bring solutions to the
table, so that those in trouble can get the help they need, and those who work with them have somewhere to turn for guidance and advice on how to deal with this silent destroyer of lives. As always, feel free to contact me with any thoughts or reactions to articles you
Trends magazine, April 2013
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