Setting the standard for recovery: Physicians' Health Programs
Open accessAbstract
A sample of 904 physicians consecutively admitted to 16 state Physicians' Health Programs (PHPs) was studied for 5 years or longer to characterize the outcomes of this episode of care and to explore the elements of these programs that could improve the care of other addicted populations. The study consisted of two phases: the first characterized the PHPs and their system of care management, while the second described the outcomes of the study sample as revealed in the PHP records. The programs were abstinence-based, requiring physicians to abstain from any use of alcohol or other drugs of abuse as assessed by frequent random tests typically lasting for 5 years. Tests rapidly identified any return to substance use, leading to swift and significant consequences. Remarkably, 78% of participants had no positive test for either alcohol or drugs over the 5-year period of intensive monitoring. At post-treatment follow-up 72% of the physicians were continuing to practice medicine. The unique PHP care management included close linkages to the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and the use of residential and outpatient treatment programs that were selected for their excellence.
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Addiction is not a fixed, immutable identity; rather, it is a condition from which recovery is possible, including among healthcare professionals such as addicted physicians.
“Importantly, addiction is not a fixed, immutable identity; rather, it is a condition from which recovery is possible, including among healthcare professionals such as addicted physicians.11,12”
From Beyond Stigma–Integrating Neurobiology, Genetics, and Awareness Integration Theory in Addiction Recovery (2026) · cites this paper as [11]
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“11,12 Resilience and forgiveness offer a forward-looking and empowering framework for both prevention and early intervention.”
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- Authors
- DuPont, R. L., McLellan, A. T., White, W. L., Merlo, L. J., & Gold, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Treatment Research Institute (US)
- Chestnut Health Systems (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- McLellan, A. Thomas
- Venue
- Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 159-171
- ISSN
- 0740-5472 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2132687609
- Cited by
- 227
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 8.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- physician addiction, addiction treatment, abstinence-based treatment, care management, 12-step programs, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, residential treatment, outpatient care, treatment outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholism, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Health Services, Physician Impairment, Retrospective Studies, Self-Help Groups, Temperance, Substance Abuse Detection, Treatment Outcome, Substance-Related Disorders
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