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Are We Doing Enough?


Addiction is widespread in the veterinary world, but there is help available By Ben Williams


Note: This article is the second in a two-part series on addiction. See April Trends for the first article.


organizations should be concerned by substance abuse among veterinary professionals. Kathryn Atkinson, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), was


V


doing regular relief work for a one-doctor practice. After having worked with the practice for more than a year, Atkinson was approached by hospital staff. “The staff drew me aside and confided that the owner-veter-


inarian was using opioids from the controlled substance store,” Atkinson said. “This had also happened in the past, and the veterinarian had gone through mandated rehab and returned to practice. This veterinarian had been displaying increasingly erratic behavior, but it was still a shock to me, as the veteri- narian was a very capable and competent veterinarian whom I respected.” Atkinson is not alone in her experiences. In fact, more


than half—56%—of AAHA members surveyed say they have worked with a veterinary professional who had a substance abuse problem. Of those who had worked with an addicted individual, 66%


said the person used drugs or alcohol at work. In most cases, 51%, the outcome was that the person was fired. Fourteen


Trends magazine, May 2013


eterinary organizations shouldn’t be complacent when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse in the practice. That’s because 83% of respondents to an exclusive survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association say AAHA and other


AAHA addiction survey 2013


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