Impaired Professionals
Doctors, Lawyers & Executives
Executive Intervention
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs costs business in the United States over $100 billion a year. It’s not unusual for a company to lose a million dollars or more every year to addiction related problems. A large company may lose close to one billion dollars a year. Industry-wide statistics show profits erode 30 percent in companies where employee alcohol and drug problems are present.
When a high-level executive, CEO, CFO, or the president of the company has a substance use disorder, it becomes increasingly difficult to address the problem. Their positions protect them from many of the consequences of addiction. Others in the company may be reluctant to discuss the problem. However an impaired executive can have a profoundly negative impact on the company.
An executive intervention utilizes a clinical interventionist with a very small team. This level of confidentiality may be crucial when top-level executives require the highest degree of privacy within the company. A small team or executive intervention may also be appropriate when there is no opportunity for a traditional intervention team. A consultation and strategy session with a clinical interventionist will help determine the best approach.
Impaired Physicians
Confidentiality is assured in all interventions, but it is especially important when dealing with impaired healthcare professionals. We have several decades of combined experience in providing intervention services for doctors and other professionals. We are also experienced in working with professional diversion programs when professional licensure is in jeopardy.
Alcohol or drug impaired professionals or behaviorally impaired professionals are usually very intelligent, strong willed, high achievers. But they have developed patterns of living that are not congruent with their profession. Without help, their careers and their families may be in jeopardy.
Attorney Assistance Programs
Structured and executive interventions are also used when approaching impaired attorneys, judges, support staff and law students. These techniques may be combined with a lawyers assistance program.
Intervention preserves the dignity and confidentiality of all involved. An executive interventionist coordinates the many sensitive issues involved in preparing and executing an intervention:
- Builds and trains the intervention team
- Develops a plan for informing key people
- Determines if any external communication is necessary
- Consults on matters of confidentiality
- Chooses an appropriate treatment
- Educates and supports the executive’s family
- Facilitates the intervention
- Coordinates with impaired professional organizations
- Implement 12Care after primary treatment
Read Jeff and Debra Jay’s article in the Michigan Bar Journal “An Avoidable Death” on helping an impaired professional.
