Drug use among anesthesiologists in the context of working relations

Objective: To understand the use of drugs by anesthesiologists focused on the context of working relations. Methods: It was a qualitative research, with a phenomenological approach. Data were collected by in-depth interviews. The subjects were fifteen Anesthesiology doctors. The content analysis of the interviews was accomplished from the organization in relevant categories, such as, evidencing the use of drugs in professional context, the easy access to drugs and the difficulty in dealing with problems related to drug abuse in working environment. Results: The use of drugs is inserted into profession routine, which causing factor is the easy access to the drugs. Besides, the inability to cope with questions related to the use of drugs in this context is evident, such as the prejudice, the professional losses and health problems of the physicians. Conclusion: Although different factors are considered as related to drug abuse, such as each individual’s singularities, personal predisposition, family history and concomitant psychiatric disorders, it was clear that the use of drugs among anesthesiologists is a phenomenon inserted in the collective of these professionals, and specific factors, such as the kind of work developed and the easy access to the drugs may play a very important role in its occurrence.