Background: Physician impairment is a serious public health issue affecting not only
physicians, but also their families, colleagues, and patients. Physician impairment is
used most often to refer to substance use disorders, which involve both substance
abuse and substance dependence and/or addiction.
Objective: This article aims to describe the problem of physician impairment within
the context of substance use disorders. The concept of recovery and several strategies
for effective recovery are explored.
Discussion: Experts now define impairment as an enduring condition that if left untreated is not amenable to remission and cure. In terms of functional capacity, impairment renders the physician unable to provide competent medical services, with serious
flaws in professional judgment. Herein, we define the scope of the problem, consider
several theories to explain the reason physicians may be prone to develop substance
use disorders, discuss diagnosis and reporting, as well as treatment and prognosis, and
identify several relapse prevention strategies.
Conclusion: Physician impairment is a real and significant public health concern;
however, recovery is feasible and the data support favorable odds of recovery and a return to clinical practice among those seeking appropriate treatment, counseling, and
relapse prevention strategies.
Key words: Physician impairment, substance use disorder, prevention, relapse, recovery, dependence, substance abuse, Physician Health Programs (PHPs).
“Tougher than ever”: An exploration of relapse prevention strategies among patients recovering from poly-substance use disorders in Ghana
