The Scale of the Problem

The prevalence of addiction to alcohol and other drugs in the general population is estimated to be approximately 10%.

There have been no large scale studies of the prevalence of addictions in members of the medical profession in the UK.

A 1998 study of junior doctors in Newcastle-upon-Tyne reported that:

• 60% exceeded the recommended safe limits for alcohol consumption
• 36% of males and 20% of females used cannabis
• 13% of males and 10% of females used other illicit drugs

A BMA Working Group, also reporting in 1998, suggested that some 1:15 doctors in the UK may suffer from some form of dependence on alcohol and/or other drugs. This equates to approximately 13,000 doctors and suggests a likely 400-500 new cases per year. The fitness to practice of all of these will be impaired.

In in Annex to the Report 'Good Doctors, Safer Patients' (July 2006) by Sir Liam Donaldson, CMO at the Dept of Health, he says:

"It is accepted that doctors are at higher risk of alcohol or drug addiction than many other professional groups. The precise extent of the problem is not clear but could amount to 10% of all doctors.

Addicted doctors are a source of potential harm to themselves and their patients. Only by identifying and engaging such doctors can that harm be reduced. The punitive disciplinary model currently in operation hinders the identification and engagement of these doctors."

In his report 'Supporting doctors, protecting patients' (1999), the CMO had raised the issue of addicted doctors and recommended that the NHS should put in place systems to better manage sick doctors. The Department of Health subsequently elected to deliver these improved services through existing NHS occupational health services.

There is no evidence to suggest that the management of addicted doctors has improved and much anecdotal evidence to suggest that it has worsened.

We aim to be part of the solution to this unhappy situation.