Drug Abuse Lands Plano Doctor Behind Bars
A doctor who performed surgeries in Plano and Dallas that severely injured four people and killed one was denied a reduction in bail, which is $600,000. Christopher Duntsch, 44 was arrested on five counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. When the Texas Medical Board revoked Duntsch's license to practice in 2013, it listed "impairment from drugs or alcohol" as factors affecting his ability to complete a successful surgery, even though it later said there was no evidence of this. However, prosecutors in his case sought to show that Duntsch indeed had drug abuse problems while performing surgeries.
Drug abuse and addiction leads to serious health and behavioral issues that can endanger you and loved ones. It may have led this doctor to commit heinous crimes and lose his medical license. If you need help, call addiction rehabs in Plano, TX today.
Types of Drug Abuse and Addiction
An addiction is defined as the compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite the existence of negative consequences. Addictions is both positively reinforcing and intrinsically rewarding, with people seeking repeated exposure to addictive substances as they create neuronal adaptations in the brain. Drugs capable of causing addiction include heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription opioids, benzodiazepines and stimulants. Some drugs produce a physical-somatic withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of use, and others produce an emotional-motivational withdrawal syndrome.
Drugs of addiction can also be characterized according to their effects, with some substances causing central nervous system (CNS) depression and others causing CNS stimulation. Behavioral addictions are also possible, with common examples including sex, gambling, exercise, food and computer addictions. While most drug treatment centers limit themselves to psychoactive substances, some also treat behavioral addiction problems.
Drug abuse knows no class lines; it can affect both the rich and the poor, as well as people of all nationalities. If you or someone know you is struggling with abuse or addiction, contact drug rehab centers in Plano or attend a Dallas Area Narcotics Anonymous meeting (www.dallasareana.org) to speak with recovering addicts about how they overcame their dependency.