The Doctor's Dilemma: Why Doctors Avoid Getting Help For Addiction

Uncategorized Apr 01, 2025

Why So Many Doctors Avoid Addiction Treatment (And Why That Fear Might Be Justified)

About 1 in 10 doctors struggles with addiction. That stat might surprise you—or it might not. But here’s what is surprising: most of them avoid getting the help they desperately need.

Now, don’t get me wrong—there are plenty of reasons people avoid addiction treatment in general. It costs money. It takes time. You’re in denial. There’s a stigma.

But healthcare professionals? They’ve got an extra big reason... and to be honest, it’s kinda legit.

👀 They’re afraid that if they get help, they’ll lose their medical license.

And when your entire livelihood depends on that license? That fear runs deep.

Why Healthcare Workers Hide Their Addiction

Hi, I’m Amber Hollingsworth, a master addiction counselor and creator of Put the Shovel Down. For the past two decades, I’ve worked with people and families battling addiction. In recent years, I’ve seen a growing number of doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals walking into my office scared, desperate, and hiding behind layers of shame.

A lot of them don’t even tell me what they do for a living.

Let me tell you a quick story...

The Doctor Who Didn’t Tell Me He Was a Doctor

Let’s call him Dr. Smith. I’d been working with him for nearly two months. We talked about everything—childhood trauma, marriage, and parenting struggles. But it wasn’t until the second-to-last session that I found out he was a physician.

You read that right. After weeks of therapy, he finally admitted it. And even then, it felt like I had to tweezer it out of him.

He didn’t tell me because he was afraid.

Afraid that if I knew he was a doctor struggling with substance use, I might report him. That someone would turn him into the licensing board, that he’d lose his career, his reputation, his identity.

And honestly? I don’t blame him. That fear isn’t just in his head. There’s some truth to it.

What Really Happens When a Doctor Gets Help for Addiction?

Let’s clear a few things up.

Yes, addiction treatment is confidential. In fact, substance abuse treatment has extra layers of confidentiality built in under federal law (hey there, HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2). So technically, no one—not your employer, not the board—should know you’re getting help.

BUT… (and it’s a big but)

When you go to renew your professional license, they’ll hit you with questions like:

Have you been diagnosed with a substance use disorder?
Have you received treatment for drug or alcohol addiction?
Are you currently under monitoring?

And bam, suddenly you’re stuck. Do you lie and risk getting caught later? Or do you tell the truth and risk triggering an investigation?

Even worse, if you do get caught—say, you get a DUI or someone reports you—it could lead to mandatory evaluations, treatment, drug testing, and monitoring programs. Some are legit. Some... not so much.

Real Talk: The Licensing Board Isn’t Always the Villain

Let’s be fair here. We need high standards for medical professionals. Patients are literally trusting you with their lives. So yeah, licensing boards should step in when there’s clear danger to the public.

But here's where it gets tricky...

I've seen professionals get caught up in the system not because they were unsafe, but because of one bad night. One mistake. One phone call.

Let me tell you about Dr. Jones...

Dr. Jones' Story: Why That Fear Is Real

Dr. Jones(name changed to keep anonymity) came to me on his own, trying to get ahead of a drinking problem. He wasn’t dependent, but when he drank, it went too far. Golf outings turned into blackouts. His wife was furious. His kids were worried. So he came in.

All good, right?

Then one weekend, he got a DUI. The arrest hit the system. His employer found out. It got escalated. Next thing he knew, he was mandated into an expensive 90-day treatment program that didn’t really match his clinical needs.

Why? Because the treatment center that did the evaluation was also the one providing the treatment. And guess who benefits from recommending a long, expensive stay?

You guessed it.

It’s not always like that—some states have systems in place to avoid this conflict of interest—but Dr. Jones wasn’t so lucky.

What Can Doctors and Licensed Professionals Do?

If you’re in this situation (or someone you love is), here's my real-world advice:

Don’t wait to get help. Do it before something bad happens. You want to control the narrative, not get caught in it.
Start with private counseling. Go to someone who understands the system, confidentiality, and addiction. (Psst: That's me.) A private therapist isn’t going to report you unless you’re actively harming someone or yourself.
Use tools like Soberlink. It’s not just a breathalyzer—it’s a full monitoring system with court-admissible records and facial recognition. Great for building trust with employers, boards, or even your spouse.
Ask about licensing protocols in your state. Most boards have “recovering professional” programs—like South Carolina’s RPP—that offer support, not just punishment. They usually include drug testing, counseling, and regular check-ins.
Keep your documentation clean. I barely take notes in sessions for this very reason. No one’s business needs to be written down unless absolutely necessary. Protect yourself.

You’re Not Alone. You’re Not Broken. You’re Worth Helping.

Look—I get it. The fear of losing everything can keep you stuck in a dangerous cycle.

But untreated addiction? That’s what ruins lives. Not the treatment. Not the counselor.

If you’re a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a dentist—whatever your license is—don’t let that license be the reason you don’t seek help.

You deserve support. You deserve peace. And most of all, you deserve recovery.

🔗 If you're ready to take the next step, check out the Soberlink system or reach out to a licensed addiction professional today.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

🆓FREE Downloadable Resources: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/free-resources

🙋🏻‍♀️FB group for family members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyrecoverysupport

📆Make An Appointment With One Of Our Specialists: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

Get 10% off Virtual Counseling with our sponsor BetterHelp 👇🏻 https://betterhelp.com/PutTheShovelDown

💯Incredibly accurate personality tests that light up your life—at home, at work, and in relationships 👉🏻 https://www.truity.com/?a=5122460

📚Amazon Book Recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/shop/addictionrecoveryresources-hopeforfamilies