Substance abuse treatment programs for physicians offer specialized care plans designed to meet the unique needs that doctors have while they are receiving help. Physician substance abuse is often hidden, and the care provider may be reluctant to seek help for fear of the stigma attached with this problem and those who seek treatment. A physician may have spent many years in school, and then a considerable time building up a good reputation and a solid practice. Being unavailable for a month or more may not be possible unless the doctor is willing to risk everything that they have worked so hard to build.
Substance abuse treatment programs for physicians will normally offer luxury settings, a wide range of treatment options and recovery activities, and complete confidentiality about the fact that the individual is undergoing treatment for physician substance abuse. Medical care providers operate under a large amount of daily stress, and this can lead to alcohol or drug abuse if the physician also has invisible wounds or hidden traumas that have never been exposed and addressed. Individual counseling, physical fitness, and even nutritional counseling and stress management courses can be very beneficial and help the physician reach a full recovery. Physicians are also humans, so it should come as no surprise that physician substance abuse is becoming a big problem in Canada, the USA, and many other countries around the globe.