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
In addition, “One bust, and I could be out business,” he said, referring to the fact that while veterinarians hold government DEA licenses to dispense addictive and narcotic medications, there are no formal guidelines or procedures in place for dealing with such situations. Ketamine, the powerful dissociative, and nitrous oxide for anesthesia are routine temptations in a veterinary office. Dr. Omar S. Manejwala, the director of the Healthcare Professionals Program at Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota, said that while he had seen “many cases of ketamine addiction among veterinarians, by far the most common addiction we continue to see is alcoholism.” In “The Addicted Veterinarian" (PDF) , Manejwala writes that he has witnessed “assistants steadying the hands of trembling docs in alcohol withdrawal during procedures. Employees, peers, and colleagues are often reluctant to say anything out of fear that the doctor will lose his license, and they may lose their employment.” Quoted in Veterinary Practice News, Dr. Gregory Skipper of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) said that “troubled vets especially seem to become reclusive, and their employees are reluctant to report them. Therefore they are more seriously ill by the time they come to our attention. We have empirically found that veterinarians are much more troubled and advanced in addictions or mental illness before they are finally
The practicality and variability associated with this profession will be intellectually challenging. However, I enjoy and am driven by challenging problems. Growing up, I noticed how our pets truly enhance our lives. They are an antidote for our loneliness, enrich our joys, and teach us about loyalty and love. Eventually, I became attracted towards medicine and animals. It wasn’t just because I’m interested in the health and welfare of animals, it was also able because I communicate well with people.
According to Rick Nauert, who has his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in information science with focuses on health care informatics, health administration, health education and health policy, reports that “Chris Goehner, a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran, reported that he was able to cut his doses of anxiety and sleep medications in half after getting one of the service dogs” and “he also saw an end to his night terrors and suicidal thoughts” (n.p.). In Love and Esnayra finding they found that, “another 40% report that their use of medication has decreased subsequent to human-canine partnership” (12). Moore also found in her study that, “three participants stated that employing their psychiatric service dog allowed them to greatly decrease their psychotropic medication usage” (90). All of these veterans shown above have been able to lower the amount of medication they are on, just by having a psychiatric service dog by their side and there to support the veteran with anything they may
The use of alcohol in adolescents is unfortunately a huge part of young people’s lives all over the world. In their minds, alcohol plays an important role in socializing and is often times associated with determining popularity. It has been found that alcohol use and depressive feelings often occur among adolescents, and the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms increases from early adolescents, especially among women (Kleinjan, 2014). The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of pet therapy on depressive symptoms among adolescents who use alcohol. From the findings of theses studies it appears that animal assisted interventions may potentially have beneficial effects on reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. All interventions used a variety of dogs in each AAT sessions. The interventions setting were grouped based and took place in mental health hospital, treatment facilities and advocacy centers. The sessions begins in a light animal assisted activity (AAA) and AAT and gradually increases to moderate. Each study session length and time varied from 1 month - 1 year and lasted 8 minutes to 1 hour long. Although our study focuses on adolescents, we
As many of us became addicted to them many of us could stop right in our paths. As I watched others in my class and younger than us struggler with their addiction, I tried to encourage them and tried helping them many times I failed. I now see status on Facebook of how long they have been clean because of rehab and professional help. Which was half of the reason as to why I wanted to pursue my career in Addiction Counseling. The other main reason as to why I want to pursue my career in Addiction Counseling is, I was always hurt by how many veterans become addicted to alcohol or substance abuse. I always wanted to encourage and help our veterans to maintain their lives in difficult situations. Attaining my Masters in Addiction Counseling is my next goal, the next challenge after getting my bachelors that will allow me to attain another passion of mine, a career in
That theme being mental health, stress, and other psychosocial factors are implicated in the ever increasing number of veterinary suicidality. A large portion of veterinarians seem to experience suicide ideation over the course of a year at a rate of 21% (Bartram, Yadegarfar, & Baldwin, 2009). In another study by Bartram, Yadegarfar, and Bladwin (2009) they also confirmed similar findings of the other studies that when compared to the general population that veterinarians experience higher levels of depression and symptoms associated with anxiety. Their study also showed that between male and female veterinarians; female respondents scored higher on a standardized anxiety and depression test (Bartram, Yadegarfar, & Baldwin, 2009). The test used by Bartram et al (2009) is known as the HADS scale; otherwise known as Hospital anxiety and depression scale it is a commonly used test for anxiety and depression (Bartram, Yadegarfar, & Baldwin, 2009). Also, included as part of their study were questionnaires on main contributors of stress and sources of job satisfaction (Bartram, Yadegarfar, & Baldwin, 2009). According to the respondents’ answers, the number of hours worked, job mistakes, increased expectations by clients and general clerical duties were the top causes of stress (Bartram, Yadegarfar, & Baldwin, 2009). This is also confirmed by studies by Plat et al (2010a, 2012) and Tran et al
One anxiety disorder that contains trauma related thoughts, negative moods, and alterations in arousal such as anger or hypervigilance is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder has been classified to have high rates of depression and substances abuse. According to Glintborg and Hansen (2017), Adults experiencing PTSD are one of the most difficult populations to treat and have up to a 50 percent chance of dropping out of treatment. However, a new therapeutic approach researchers are now exploring is animal treatment. Professionals are establishing goal-directed therapeutic intervention for this population with Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). When being exposed to an animal, studies have shown positive effects in an individual’s
Veterinarians are far more different than veterinarian technicians and have more access to different types of jobs in the facility. There are some things like cleaning a veterinarian will not do and will have a veterinarian technician clean. It may seem boring but cleaning is actually important and is a big deal that it is taken care of in an animal hospital. It will help keep the facility clean and the next animal that is put in a kennel won’t run the risk of catching what the last animal had.Veterinarians require 8 years of college unless they want to specialize in something like nerves then they will have to go to college for a total of 12 years. (http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-vet-tech.html) Vet techs have to complete 2 years of college which is not to be confused with vet technologists who go to school for 4 years.
In many places around the world, substance abuse has become a frequent issue. Many people may not be aware of substance abuse in nurses, from prescription drugs to alcohol and even cigarettes. Abuse from nurses poses a new challenge to the profession due to their jobs as caretakers and their access to controlled substances. It is a perplexing thought that people whose profession is to care for other don’t do the same for themselves. Nurses do in fact have stressful jobs, however, it is certainly unexpected that nurses interact with substance abuse patients and continue to abuse themselves. Therefore, one would think nurses of all people, would know how damaging certain substances can be to the body. Patients are more likely to be influenced by the actions of their caretakers, being their beacon of health and care. It is crucial for nurses to be aware of the drug abuse that occurs within their profession. The negative behavioral impacts of substance abuse disorder is far spreading and greatly impacts the safe and trusted care that nurses give.
Over the years, animals have participated with great results in the treatment of the elderly and terminally ill. Now, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is benefitting people diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with promising results. Veterans are the most notable with it comes to PTSD. These men and women share a deep sense of fellowship and believe that no one but another fellow soldier can understand what they have experienced. Helping veterans who are suffering as a result of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has mostly been through counseling, medication, and partnering with other military veterans for support. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017) A large number of people have often have been exposed to animals at a young age through having pets, pictures in books, going to the zoo, television, classrooms, blankets, or clothing. Pairing animals with humans to treat any number of ailments is a new route many people are taking as part of their treatment plan. The resent use of Animal Assisted Therapy for people that suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has been on the rise in recent years to help with dealing with everyday life and recovery. Moreover, the healing process for PTSD has
When we become ill, we go to a legitimate specialist to help us recoup from our illnesses. We ensure that we search for a decent specialist to furnish us with medicine. Essentially in searching for a veterinary center, we have to search for a dependable office and veterinarian to furnish us with great veterinary administrations.
It has been recorded that animal assisted therapy programs have included the interaction with domestic, as well as exotic animals. Coetzee, Beukes, and Lynch (2013) conducted a study which involved animal assisted therapy with lions, wild dogs, tigers, mongoose, cheetahs, and ostriches for substance abuse inpatients in South Africa. However, most animal assisted therapy sessions include dogs, or horses. A service dog is trained to do work, care for, for perform tasks for people with physical or mental conditions which inhibits major life activities/functions such as: caring for one’s self, learning, walking, performing manual tasks, speaking, breathing, seeing, and working
This may be incredibly frustrating for a person recovering from addiction, but it makes a lot of sense from their perspective. Some centers are simply unprepared to deal with dogs, either because they are too small, or lack the faculty to deal with the potential difficulties. After all, during your rehabilitation treatments, someone will have to watch your pup.
Pet therapy is used a lot for substance abusers. Animals can often calm down a substance abuser and prepare them to face their demons. Addicts are most likely to focus only on themselves, but engaging with an animal can encourage them to think about others. Animals can also encourage them to stop the substance abuse because most substance abusers don't have money so when they starve, they can see the effects on someone other than them. Substance abusers who go to counseling with an animal are proven to learn more about teamwork, and communication. Counseling programs with addicts can also help them to trust others more, and self-express themselves. Animals often introduce fun into sessions which can help with the pressure and tension
Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All