Fatal cases of drug abuse at the workplace among healthcare addict professionals

Abstract EN

The use of psychoactive substances among healthcare professionals has been well documented.

Anesthesiology, surgery and emergency medicine are recognized among medical specialty groups as having a high risk for the development of chemical dependence.

Product availability, stress and work overload are risk factors.

The risk of excess mortality by suicide or overdose has been proven.

We report two cases of deaths at the workplace among healthcare in the university hospital of Habib BOURGUIBA of Sfax (South Capital of Tunisia).

Both of the victims were found in the toilet of the hospital during a night watch.

The external examination found suggestive signs of addiction by intravenous injection.

Autopsy and toxicology analyses leaded us to retain the toxic origin of the death.

No Tunisian publication was interested before in drug abuse among healthcare professionals.

However, this problem exists in our country.

Reducing this risk requires prevention through improved working conditions and early detection of cases to ensure appropriate care.