Safe Intervention Essentials

If you are reading this page to address a current suspicion of impairment or drug diversion, review these important points.  If there is concern due to risk of imminent harm, call 911 immediately.  

Call the Peer Assistance Helpline for any and all aspects related to CRNA/SRNA drugs/alcohol use, impairment, substance use disorder, or suspicion of drug diversion: 

AANA Peer Assistance Helpline*  
24/7 confidential live support and resources
(800) 654-5167

Ideally, an intervention should be planned and in place prior to confronting the individual, which means swift and thorough coordination of a large number of variables. If there is time, see Conducting a Safe Intervention. Resources to help create a substance use disorder policy, including a planned intervention process, can be found at Substance Use Disorder Workplace Resources. Important steps in safely addressing suspicion of impairment or drug diversion:

Crisis Intervention Essentials: 

In situations that may warrant conducting a crisis intervention (e.g. impaired during patient care and need to remove from clinical practice), be sure to follow these essentials:

  1. Do not let the person out of your sight! Do not let them drive!
  2. Obtain a properly collected drug test.
  3. Contact a treatment center to provide a trained interventionist, or at least guidance, and to have a bed ready.
  4. If possible, include a trained interventionist, family, spouse, and colleagues.
  5. Bring all evidence.
  6. Do not let the impaired individual determine treatment. Remember, they are sick.
  7. Only when all else fails, threaten to call the police. Often, this will cause the individual to admit that he/she has a serious problem.

Legal Reporting: 

The priority is to get the impaired individual evaluated and into treatment safely; reporting to the proper state and medical or nursing board can usually wait. If your workplace does not have a policy process for reporting, call the AANA Peer Assistance Helpline. 

Post Treatment Resources:

Source: Hamza, H. & Bryson, E.O.​ The Drug Seeking Anesthesia Provider, International Anesthesiology Clinics 49, no. 1 (2011): 157-171.

AANA's position statement and policy considerations: Addressing Substance Use Disorder for Anesthesia Professionals

 *AANA Peer Assistance is intended to provide resources and act as an information center for the purpose of providing helpful peer support to CRNAs in need of assistance for chemical dependency/substance use disorder (SUD). Although the program is administered by trained volunteers, it is not a professional treatment or counseling program. No person associated with the Helpline, including any AANA staff or volunteer, is authorized to make a medical diagnosis, provide professional therapy, treatment or counseling, or provide legal or other professional advice of any kind. Please consult your personal medical provider or legal counsel for all such services. In addition, with the limited exception of anonymous demographic data, which is maintained for reporting purposes only, all information provided by a person contacting the Helpline will be kept confidential to the extent required by applicable laws. However, please note that all AANA staff and volunteers are required to comply fully with all applicable state laws regarding mandated reporting.