Everyone has coping mechanisms, but sometimes those ways of coping become problem behaviours - addictions.

In this episode of Doctor Informed, we're focussing on how to spot the signs that you may be sliding into addiction, how to have conversations with friends and colleagues if you worry about their behaviour, and how seeking treatment is the best way to avoid GMC scrutiny.

Joining Clara Munro are Liz Croton and Zaid Al-Najjar, GPs who work for NHS Practitioner health - a mental health and addiction service specifically for health professionals. They are also joined by Ruth Mayall, a retired consultant anaesthetist who has experienced addiction herself, and has contributed to the Association of Anaesthetists guidance on drug and alcohol abuse.

Some resources mentioned in the podcast;

NHS Practitioner Health

https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/

The Sick Doctor's Trust

http://sick-doctors-trust.co.uk/

British Doctors & Dentists Group

https://www.bddg.org/

Substance use disorder in the anaesthetist

https://anaesthetists.org/Home/Resources-publications/Guidelines/Substance-use-disorder-in-the-anaesthetist

Substance abuse in anaesthetists

https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/16/7/236/2196385?login=false