DOCTORS LEADERS RULE OUT RANDOM TESTS AFTER SHOCK DRUGS SURVEY

Doctors leaders today rejected the introduction of random drugs tests after
a new study found that drug abuse and excessive drinking are shockingly
commonplace among younger members of the profession.

The study of the lifestyles of 90 junior house officers, most of them
women, found that 93% drank alcohol, of whom 60% exceeded recommended
safety limits.

More than 35% of the men and 19% of women were using cannabis, with over
11% taking it regularly.

A high proportion of the doctors, 13% of men and 10% of women, used other
illicit drugs including magic mushrooms, LSD, ecstasy, amyl nitrate,
cocaine and amphetamines.

The main reason for drinking and drug taking was given as "pleasure".
However, the investigators found that most of the doctors had high
work-related stress levels, producing anxiety and depression.

All the doctors taking part in the survey were contacted a year after
graduating from the University of Newcastle. Of 114 contacted, 90 -
including 51 women - agreed to provide information on an anonymous basis.

Dr Farhad Kamali and colleagues from the university, who carried out the
survey, wrote in the Lancet medical journal: "It is unlikely these
lifestyles apply only to house officers in the north east of England.

"The current drinking habits, illicit drug use and stress in some junior
doctors is of concern, not only for their own well being, but also how they
may affect patient care."

They raised the question of whether routine or random drug and alcohol
testing should be introduced for junior doctors. The doctors added: "There
is no evidence that such schemes would be workable or appropriate in the UK
National Health Service, but mandatory urine screening is undertaken in the
UK army, and some UK industries, and for doctors in the USA."

A statement from the British Medical Association said: "The Lancet
article's findings are consistent with the BMA's own research on junior
doctors drinking above safe limits, often to combat stress.

"The information on recreational drug use is new to the BMA, but it looks
consistent with patterns of recreational drug use by young people
generally.

"We cannot tell from The Lancet article how many of these young doctors may
have an addiction problem or might develop one, but we take the problem of
drug and alcohol misuse by doctors very seriously.

"All the evidence is that if you can intervene and offer support to a
doctor with problems early on, they have a good chance of recovery."

However, the statement said any proposal to introduce random or routine
drug testing would have "major civil liberties implications". "We have not
seen evidence that testing all these groups of health professionals is
necessary, or that it would be effective. If such a proposal were to be put
forward, the BMA would want to consider the evidence very carefully."

1998 Press Association

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson