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Veterinary Profession Research Paper

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The first time that I heard about substance abuse was during the final exam of my first semester at the veterinary school. I still clearly remember students who had pale faces with dilated pupil, acting strange and unusual, a week before and during the final exam. Later on, I learned that these students were abusing prescription drugs to gain an edge on their studies and exams. Since then, I have heard many stories about substance abuse by veterinarians and technicians that ultimately ended in their dismissal. After all, I started thinking that why we have such a high rate of addiction and substance abuse in the veterinary profession and why they have not yet been addressed properly. I wondered why the veterinary profession did not have any …show more content…

The stereotype that “ a veterinarian is just having fun” or “ the veterinary medicine is an easy job because they do not deal with real patients” is far from the reality of the veterinary profession. Maybe this point of view, in part, prevents veterinary profession from having a substance abuse and mental health program. The veterinary is an unique profession, not only because the patients have four legs and cannot speak up for itself, but because we hold government DEA licenses to dispense addictive and narcotic medications, which their guidelines or procedures are not as strictly enforced as in the human medicine. For example, Ketamine, a powerful dissociative, and nitrous oxide, an anesthetic agent, are routinely used in a veterinary office and have a high rate of …show more content…

We need to conduct more accurate surveys and researches about addiction and its underlying causes in the veterinary profession. Establishing an updated database and hotline can be eventually used in creating new effective programs for those who need assistance. By being armed with information, data and knowledge, we can move toward revised medical and educational system, wherein stress is not going to be a source of burnout. And it will eventually provide the veterinarians the same program for substance abuse and mental issue that have been granted to other medical profession for years.
Researching, raising awareness and acknowledgment about addiction and substance abuse issue in the veterinary profession will indeed provide the necessary education for the society and particularly veterinarians. Consequently, it attenuates the stigma and taboo attached to suffering from an addiction and mental health among

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