Doctors' drug abuse reduced during contingency-contracting treatment.
Fifteen drug-abusing doctors each directed their psychiatrist to mail to their licensing boards a pre-prepared license-surrendering letter if any of a series of urine samples contained drugs. The doctors also received other, individualized treatments. Profound reductions in drug use occurred. Seven patients did not relapse at all during the 2-year (average) follow-up, and 4 others experienced only very brief relapses. Four licenses were suspended temporarily by contract, but 6 were suspended or revoked for other reasons. Other reports on such patients reveal some adverse outcomes, and two of these patients had adverse outcomes after relapsing and discontinuing treatment.
D000328:Adult; D003975:Diazepam; D004157:Diphenoxylate; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010815:Physician Impairment; D012008:Recurrence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000652:urine; D013997:Time Factors
D004157:Diphenoxylate; D008614:Meperidine; D003975:Diazepam