The team at Fifth Avenue Psychiatry aims to help both adults and adolescents with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Substance Abuse & Addiction Among Health Care Professionals
New York Health Care Professionals and Substance Abuse Disorders Despite societal perceptions of healthcare professionals and preconceived ideologies, these professionals are just as susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse as in other professions. Society holds healthcare workers to a higher standard than the rest and holds them in high regard for their contribution to the community. Healthcare professionals are here to take care of us. Healthcare professionals know what to do and what not to do to be healthy. Healthcare professionals prevent us from hurting ourselves and sometimes others. We often assume that healthcare professionals will do everything possible to protect their health and well-being, but that is not always the case. Unfortunately, many contributing factors can be a catalyst …
3 Signs a Person is Self-Medicating: Substance Use and Mental Illness
Substance Use and Mental Health: Why People Self-Medicate Self-medication refers to the use of drugs or alcohol as an attempt to manage issues related to mental health. According to the 2018 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 20.3 million Americans aged 12 or over have a substance use disorder. There is no doubt that that number has skyrocketed over the last five years due to ease of gain and the pandemic. Most individuals who use substances to self-medicate use them to cope with or alleviate the symptoms of their mental health struggles. Some use drugs to reduce symptoms, while others use alcohol, food, or even exercise. 3 Signs of Self-Medication If you notice changes in behaviors or …
Stimulant Addiction in the Professional World
How Do Stimulants Work Stimulants work on the nervous system to improve cognitive function and alertness, increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These natural chemicals help to increase concentration and reduce fatigue. Prescription stimulants treat the symptoms of ADHD, ADD, and narcolepsy, as well as sometimes treat depression. Unfortunately, although these medications can be very helpful in fighting ADD, ADHD, narcolepsy, and depression, they are widely abused, can quickly cause addiction, and are treated as “performance enhancers” in many settings. When prescribed and taken as intended, stimulant medications can help ADD and ADHD patients immensely, but the trouble starts when people without these disorders take the medications. In addition to attention disorder and narcolepsy medications, there are …
Substance Abuse’s Impact on Relationships at Work
Interpersonal relationships are between two or more people and can consist of one-on-one interactions in person, via social media or email, in social settings, or the workplace. In the workplace, substance abuse can affect these relationships differently depending upon the nature of the relationship, whether among peers or in a manager/employee relationship. One of the most obvious ways addiction affects interpersonal relationships is the change in the company an addict keeps. Once drug abuse becomes a habit, the user will choose to remove themselves from family and friends who show concern and surround themselves with other users. This provides a sense of belonging and eliminates questioning, accusing, or accountability to abstain. Although drug abuse certainly affects familial and significant-other relationship …
The Link Between Workplace Stress and Drug Abuse
Workplace stress is not only prevalent, especially in high-level positions, but also often leads to substance use to cope. From high-level executives to emergency responders, substance use prevails as a way to cope with the demands and stress of work expectations. With such a high demand placed on productivity, reliance on external sources (including drugs and alcohol) are not completely surprising. Unfortunately, substance abuse may go undetected for a long time, with people often using so much and so often that their “normal” is actually under the influence, making it difficult to detect when a person is using. From needing uppers to keep up with a fast pace to downers to relax, substances are a common tool used to keep …
Peer Pressure and Drug Use in High-Level Positions
High-Stress Careers and the Prevalence of Peer Pressure No one is exempt from peer pressure, not top athletes, movie stars, or even executives in fast-paced, high-level companies. Executive peer pressure is often associated with the need to act successfully and show leadership, even when not in the office. Along with this comes the pressure to do what those before you did, and do what other high-level executives may be doing, including the use of alcohol, drugs, and other addictions to deal with the stress of high-pressure positions. This pressure and need to resemble the crowd are especially prevalent in the hospitality and recreation industry. Although the fun and excitement of the hospitality and recreation industry may bring professionals around illicit …