Peter Grinspoon, MD, wrote a memoir detailing his journey from opioid addiction to recovery, according to The Boston Globe.
Dr. Grinspoon wrote the memoir, in part, to eliminate the stigma around drug addiction in physicians. He writes, "Anybody can get addicted. I wanted to show people can get better, it's not a death sentence. You can't give up on people."
Often, physicians who become addicted to opioids feel a sense of shame and find it difficult to ask for help. However, physicians have a higher rate of recovery, which Dr. Grinspoon attributes to physicians having more to lose.
The medical community should work to dispel the stigma regarding physicians and addiction so many physicians suffering from addiction seek help. Dr. Grinspoon said, "The most important thing is to end the stigma. That makes it much easier for people to come out of the shadows and get help."
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