Laura was a nurse, she loved being one. She had found her calling; something she excelled at. Friends of friends reported on Laura’s value when dealing with their loved ones.
Things we didn’t know back then: There is a prevalence of medics who become alcoholics, who become addicted to drugs. A study shows medical students are consistent with peers in using alcohol and drugs. But, a higher pattern of addiction is apparent when medics increase in age. APApsycNET©
Why is this?
Are shift hours responsible? Most social alcohol intake is at weekends and in the evening. Medics work weekends, work nights. Their socialising pattern is disrupted. Any day is a drink day, any time of day becomes a drink hour. A frivolous habit turns into a deadly vice.
Is immersion of duty responsible? Medics are faced with life and death. They visit disease daily. Patients can die beyond a medic’s capability. Medics see and handle corpses. Medics stare death in the face, live with stress daily. Alcohol and drugs can be used to relieve stress, can be used as a coping mechanism when dealing with experience.
Are medics more flippant with their own health? Are they too familiar with drugs. Too familiar with nature’s ability to restore. Could our daughter have avoided alcoholism, avoided drug abuse, if she had taken the office job with regular hours?
addictchild 