Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review
Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a global public health problem with more adverse impacts among the population at risk. Healthcare workers, including physicians, are at increased risk of substance use problems in developing countries, including India, due to prolonged working hours, fi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_698_24 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849426564414963712 |
|---|---|
| author | Yesh Chandra Singh Roshan Bhad Arun Kandaswamy |
| author_facet | Yesh Chandra Singh Roshan Bhad Arun Kandaswamy |
| author_sort | Yesh Chandra Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a global public health problem with more adverse impacts among the population at risk. Healthcare workers, including physicians, are at increased risk of substance use problems in developing countries, including India, due to prolonged working hours, financial stress due to poor pay during early career, and poor work–life balance.
Aim:
We conducted a narrative review to assess the rate and pattern of substance use among Indian physicians.
Methods and Results:
As per limited prevalence studies among Indian physicians since the year 2000, tobacco consumption and alcohol are the most common and have a higher prevalence than the general population. Recent studies also reveal issues with prescription drugs. As physicians entrusted to their patient care, they must follow the code of medical ethics, fulfilling the profession’s duties. This creates complex situations in the management of the problem, medical fitness, and stigma.
Conclusion:
The present narrative review assesses the prevalence of substance use among physicians in India. Some of the management and ethical issues in this “special population” group are discussed, referring to available literature in other countries, while discussing a way forward for the Indian setting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b27c4213cb8c4e1abb50ab696c9adeed |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0019-5545 1998-3794 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-b27c4213cb8c4e1abb50ab696c9adeed2025-08-20T03:29:19ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Psychiatry0019-55451998-37942025-06-0167655355910.4103/indianjpsychiatry_698_24Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative reviewYesh Chandra SinghRoshan BhadArun KandaswamyBackground: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a global public health problem with more adverse impacts among the population at risk. Healthcare workers, including physicians, are at increased risk of substance use problems in developing countries, including India, due to prolonged working hours, financial stress due to poor pay during early career, and poor work–life balance. Aim: We conducted a narrative review to assess the rate and pattern of substance use among Indian physicians. Methods and Results: As per limited prevalence studies among Indian physicians since the year 2000, tobacco consumption and alcohol are the most common and have a higher prevalence than the general population. Recent studies also reveal issues with prescription drugs. As physicians entrusted to their patient care, they must follow the code of medical ethics, fulfilling the profession’s duties. This creates complex situations in the management of the problem, medical fitness, and stigma. Conclusion: The present narrative review assesses the prevalence of substance use among physicians in India. Some of the management and ethical issues in this “special population” group are discussed, referring to available literature in other countries, while discussing a way forward for the Indian setting.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_698_24addictionalcoholdoctorsmedical ethicsphysiciansstigmasubstance use disorders |
| spellingShingle | Yesh Chandra Singh Roshan Bhad Arun Kandaswamy Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review Indian Journal of Psychiatry addiction alcohol doctors medical ethics physicians stigma substance use disorders |
| title | Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review |
| title_full | Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review |
| title_fullStr | Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review |
| title_short | Substance use among Indian Physicians: A narrative review |
| title_sort | substance use among indian physicians a narrative review |
| topic | addiction alcohol doctors medical ethics physicians stigma substance use disorders |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_698_24 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yeshchandrasingh substanceuseamongindianphysiciansanarrativereview AT roshanbhad substanceuseamongindianphysiciansanarrativereview AT arunkandaswamy substanceuseamongindianphysiciansanarrativereview |