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Controlling Abuse of Drugs From the Anesthesia Department

Controlling Abuse of Drugs From the Anesthesia Department To the Editor.— The recent report of Dr Adler et al, "Narcotics Control in Anesthesia Training,"1 was of great interest. Hard data on the magnitude of this problem and its consequences are minimal. It is clear, however, that physician drug abuse is a devastating phenomenon, and in no subspecialty does it seem more rampant than in anesthesia: one study revealed that 1% to 2% of anesthesia personnel had come to the attention of their chairman because of drug or alcohol abuse, and that seven of 44 abusers were reported to have died as a result of problems related to abuse.2 Given the nature of the drugs available (super-potent synthetic narcotics) and the anesthesiologists' responsibility for the custody of critically ill and anesthetized (helpless) patients, the consequences of drug abuse in this field are particularly devastating. The authors' efforts to address and in some measure to control the problem http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Controlling Abuse of Drugs From the Anesthesia Department

JAMA , Volume 254 (22) – Dec 13, 1985

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References (3)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.1985.03360220042017
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

To the Editor.— The recent report of Dr Adler et al, "Narcotics Control in Anesthesia Training,"1 was of great interest. Hard data on the magnitude of this problem and its consequences are minimal. It is clear, however, that physician drug abuse is a devastating phenomenon, and in no subspecialty does it seem more rampant than in anesthesia: one study revealed that 1% to 2% of anesthesia personnel had come to the attention of their chairman because of drug or alcohol abuse, and that seven of 44 abusers were reported to have died as a result of problems related to abuse.2 Given the nature of the drugs available (super-potent synthetic narcotics) and the anesthesiologists' responsibility for the custody of critically ill and anesthetized (helpless) patients, the consequences of drug abuse in this field are particularly devastating. The authors' efforts to address and in some measure to control the problem

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Dec 13, 1985

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