🩺 When Healers Are Hurting

Doctors, nurses, interns, and paramedical staff spend their careers healing others. But who heals them?

Behind the calm competence of many medical professionals lies a growing mental health crisis—burnout, sleeplessness, anxiety, and increasingly, substance use. In Chennai’s high-pressure hospitals and private clinics, the misuse of alcohol, sleeping pills, stimulants, and painkillers is quietly growing—and rarely addressed.

It’s not just a personal issue. It’s a systemic red flag for the healthcare system itself.

📉 The Hidden Numbers

• Studies across India show that 1 in 5 doctors report hazardous drinking levels.

• Use of benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, and painkillers like Tapentadol is increasing among medical and nursing professionals.

• MBBS and postgraduate students, burdened by exams and long shifts, report smoking, vaping, or using alcohol to unwind.

• Female doctors and nurses, especially those juggling work and caregiving at home, are turning to pills to cope with stress and insomnia.

But most do not seek help—due to fear, stigma, or professional repercussions.

💊 What Substances Are Commonly Misused?

1. Alcohol

• “De-stressing” after night shifts or surgeries

• Binge drinking during post-duty weekends

• High-functioning dependence, hidden by performance

2. Sleeping Pills & Anti-Anxiety Drugs

• Zolpidem, Alprazolam, Clonazepam—easily accessed, often self-prescribed

• Used to manage insomnia, exam stress, or emotional shutdown

• Tolerance builds, and withdrawal becomes dangerous if stopped abruptly

3. Painkillers / Tapentadol / Tramadol

• Used for physical exhaustion, migraines, or to dull emotional pain

• Often crushed and injected by staff in rare but serious cases

• Creates strong psychological and physical dependency

4. Stimulants

• Used by interns and PGs to stay awake during continuous shifts

• Methylphenidate misuse among students claiming “focus improvement”

🔍 Why Are Medical Professionals at Risk?

• Easy access to medications

• Normalised burnout and toxic hierarchy

• Night duties, sleep deprivation

• Fear of seeking therapy due to licensure concerns

• Culture of silence: “If I admit weakness, my career is over.”

“We’re expected to be superhuman. But when we break down, we hide instead of healing.”

⚠️ The Cost of Silence

Unaddressed substance use can lead to:

• Patient safety issues (impaired judgment, surgical errors)

• Memory lapses and delayed reflexes

• Depression, suicidal thoughts

• Medical negligence complaints and disciplinary action

• Family conflict and burnout

It’s not just a personal risk—it’s a public health concern.

🧠 How We Can Support, Not Punish

Recovery must begin with compassion, confidentiality, and clinical care—not shame or punishment.

At Apollo Clinic, Velachery & Tambaram, we offer discreet, doctor-friendly deaddiction support, including:

✅ Evening or off-duty consultation slots
✅ No documentation unless explicitly requested
✅ Craving management, tapering, and detox
✅ CBT, stress management, and burnout therapy
✅ Support groups for medical professionals
✅ Liaison with ethical boards when needed (only with consent)

“Doctors and nurses deserve the same care we offer our patients—with respect, dignity, and science.”

📞 If You’re a Medical Professional Struggling in Silence…

Please don’t wait for it to spiral.

📍 Apollo Clinic, Velachery & Tambaram
📱 8595155808
🌐 www.srinivasaiims.com

“You cannot pour from an empty cup. Get help—not just for yourself, but for every life you care for.”

✍️ About the Author

Dr. Srinivas Rajkumar T, MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
Consultant Psychiatrist | Apollo Clinic, Velachery & Tambaram

Dr. Srinivas has worked closely with doctors, nurses, and medical students across Chennai. With a strong belief in non-punitive, confidential care, he provides structured deaddiction and emotional recovery support for medical professionals battling stress, burnout, and substance misuse. He also leads advocacy for physician mental health rights and institutional wellness reforms.