Can I still have my dream career in medicine?

[MysteryPrognosis]

Would an individual who successfully completed opiate abuse treatment be able to pursue a career in medicine?

I became addicted to oxycodone after being treated for a serious injury. My addiction last about 6 months. When I realized the mess I was in, I got help immediately.

I completed a Suboxone treatment program. I haven't had any oxycodone or any other partial opiate since late 2007, and have been free from Suboxone since summer 2008.

I never missed an appointment, never failed a drug test, never ran out of my medicine early, never altered my dosages. My doctors were very impressed with my commitment and ultimate success with treatment. And I am actually pretty proud of myself as well.

I don't pretend to be cured of addiction. I am very aware of my risk potential. However, I am trying to move past that part of my life as much as possible. I will always remember the experience and what I learned in treatment, but I do not want to be defined by my addiction. However, I fear that in the eyes of the medical community, I am just an addict.

My entire life, and throughout this experience I have been preparing to become a physician. It is what I want more than anything in the world. I am poised to take my MCAT and began the application process, but am afraid of what I may be required to disclose and how it may effect my future.

I have no criminal record, aside from a couple traffic violations. However, I feel like I have this horrible black mark on my medical records.

Being an MD and PhD, along with your specialties and personal experience, I was hoping you could offer some guidance. A glimpse of what to expect.

I have no problem laying my life out on the table for all eyes to see if thats what it takes. I just want to be prepared for it if thats what this all will come to.

Thanks in advance for you time.

[MysteryPrognosis]

Thank you so much for responding. I will definitely call your office when you return.

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

No-- the question is fine. I am leaving on my first trip to Europe in a couple days, and in solo practice psychiatry, I'm finding out, taking a vacation is a lot of work!  

I think we should talk by telephone after I return, so please consider finding my office through my profile and calling me-- just tell the person who answers that you are from medhelp and that I asked you to call.  Don't call, though, until after 3/16, as I will be gone until then.

For everyone else...  I cannot recommend that you avoid becoming a doctor, particularly now that we have more effective treatments available and in the pipeline.  Had Suboxone been available for me, I might still be an anesthesiologist, and I certainly would have spared my family a great deal of pain.  There were month when I was so desperate to stop, but I just couldn't...  I even took naltrexone out of desperation, without the 'anesthesia' that they provide for similar 'rapid opiate detox'... and I did it twice!  I was about as sick as I ever care to be.   Back then, relapse meant 'no solutions';  I used to work with a doc who never made it back to active practicing.  Now, Suboxone can limit the destruction to a few days of crazy behavior.

But... you are correct that there will be some issues to face.  The worse is that darn question that comes up all the time on credentialing applications, residency applications, hospital privileges requests... 'do you now, or have you ever, had a problem with intoxicants that can potentially interfere with your ability to care for patients?'  I thought that 'no, it no longer can interfere with my ability'... but when everything 'came down', nobody was impressed with my honesty with that question.  

Staying clean benefits greatly from a feeling of 'gratitude'.  Your odds of doing well in medicine, and in recovery, will be the highest if you find a way to be grateful for the opportunity to be a doctor, even with some hassle... rather than feeling resentful about your history and about the stigma and judgment that are unfortunately always present.

Finally, I hear every day that I am 'different'-- in a good way--- for the way that I empathize with others.  My wife would argue I suppose... but most people in good recovery have, in my opinion, a little better perspective on health and illness, providing that their recovery is solid.  And those are the people that medicine needs the most during times like these.

Good luck,
JJ

[MysteryPrognosis]

Is this a question you cannot or prefer not to answer?