DRUG-ADDICTED DOCTORS TURN TO PETHIDINE

Doctors addicted to illegal drugs were likely to have used them for
more than two years before being caught, research has found.

The study of drug-addicted doctors published in the latest edition of
the Medical Journal of Australia showed that most used pethidine,
which they got from writing fake prescriptions, from surgery or
hospital stock or from their doctor's bag emergency supply. Most of
the 79 illegal drug users surveyed were men aged between 30 and 39.
Most were general practitioners.

The 79 New South Wales doctors surveyed for the report had the
authority to administer drugs withdrawn by the state's health
department between 1985 and 1994. About 43 per cent had used drugs
for more than two years before they were reported to
authorities.

The study showed 0.4 per cent of NSW's doctors were drug addicted. The
president of the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria, Dr Kerry
Breen, said Victorian studies had shown 0.5 per cent of doctors were
drug abusers.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady