USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN 3 MEDICAL SPECIALTIES - ANESTHESIA,MEDICINE AND SURGERY

In order to determine the prevalence of psychoactive substance use in three specialty groupings, 1,624 questionnaires were sent to physician s in medicine, surgery and anaesthesia; all had trained at the same ac ademic institution. A response rate of 57.8% was achieved. Comparison of prevalence of impairment rates showed no differences between Surger y (14.4%), Medicine (19.9%) and Anaesthesia (16.8%). Substance abuse w as clearly associated with a family history of abuse; 32.1% of the abu sers had a family history of such abuse compared with 11.7% of the non -abusers. Increased stress at various career stages did not appear to increase substance abuse; problem areas during medical life times were similar for each specialty. Substances most frequently used were mari juana (54.7%), amphetamines (32.9%); and benzodiazepines (25.1%). Seve nty-three used psychoactive drugs which were non-prescribed. Drug coun selling programmes were judged inadequate by most. Use of alcohol and drugs by faculty members was reported by a number of respondents.