RX FOR PHYSICIANS WITH DRUG PROBLEM

DEAR ANN: I just finished reading the letter from the Oregon woman whose
physician husband is addicted to uppers and downers. Two years ago, that
letter could have been written by me.

My wife is an extremely hard-working and dedicated physician who began using
``minor'' tranquilizers to relieve the stress and anxiety of her grueling
schedule. She became addicted, and my life and the lives of our children
turned into a terrifying nightmare that lasted for five years.

With the assistance of the Physicians Health Program of her state medical
society, she was able to enter a treatment program especially for doctors
and has been drug-free for nearly 18 months. She has become, once again, the
wonderful woman I married 25 years ago.

I would advise the woman from Oregon to run, not walk, to the Oregon
physician assistance program and talk to them about her husband. The drugs
he is using are extremely dangerous, and one of these days he will get
caught. I guarantee it.

The people at the program are not punitive or judgmental. They will help her
husband keep his license, his practice and his standing in the community.
There are thousands of physicians in every state who are former drug addicts
and alcoholics and are successfully practicing medicine, drug-free, with the
help of their fellow physicians.

- -- Been There and Back in Pa.

DEAR BEEN THERE AND BACK: I have had hundreds of letters from wives,
husbands, parents and children who, like you, describe in glowing terms the
physician assistance programs of the state medical societies. I urge all
drug-impaired physicians to contact their state medical societies at once
and inquire about such facilities in their own communities.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett