HOW ONE DOCTOR CONQUERED ADDICTION

The stigma of drug addiction still exists today, and, in some communities, it is often hard to ignore. Some people believe addiction is a lack of will-power, money, privilege, or education but the harsh reality is, it is a disease that does not discriminate. You cannot escape it based on your age, race, gender, or profession, it is an insidious disorder that can destroy lives and rip families apart. Relapse rates are estimated to run as high as 60 percent, even after treatment. For many who do remain sober, it can be a constant struggle. For some, this disease may creep up without warning and like a tornado, it strips away everything in its path.

Physiatrist Dr. Robert Campbell knows exactly what I am talking about. After med school he quickly rose to the top of his game in 2012 when he became the Medical Director of an inpatient re-
habilitation floor specializing in acute spinal cord injuries, stroke, Traumatic Brain Injuries, neurological diseases and post-surgical care. He believed he was infallible and could do anything he
wanted and have anything he desired. “Honestly, (if you follow football) I was like Johnny Manziel coming out of residency. I thought I was untouchable, I could talk my way out of anything, I was in control of everything. Man was I wrong!”

The pressures of job, family, and life can force us to make decisions we never expected or intended. We all behave differently under pressure, but there is a breaking point. For Dr. Campbell, the perfect storm of a difficult relationship and taxing job caused him to spin out of control. “I was miserable, my girlfriend at that time hated it here in Wyoming. We just had our baby. I did not like my job and I was getting all chronic pain patients pushed onto me while being the director of the rehab unit. I started drinking a lot on my own time but then started taking pain pills all the time (right during the whole opioid epidemic). It got to the point where I couldn’t be without them, so I reported myself to the medical board.” For the next several months he participated in both inpatient and outpatient treatment and had to forfeit his medical license.

“The Comeback is always stronger than the Setback”

When asked about inpatient rehab Dr Campbell said, “Oh man, it was crazy. First, I had instant respect from everyone from staff to other patients, which I thought was super strange, just because of my professional status.” He went on, “I was legit unemployed for almost three years, but I kept being faithful to myself and put the work in.”

After four and a half years of sobriety Dr. Campbell is back to practicing medicine with a fulfilling career in pain management. While his struggle with prescription drugs is behind him, he admits that abstaining from alcohol was and still is a difficult decision he makes every day. “It changed my entire life for better and worse. I would probably be dead by now if it did not work out how it did. I think I’m the only person in my rehab “unit” that didn’t relapse and one of few of doctors here who haven’t relapsed.”

Many of us have big dreams and goals about the kind of career we want and the legacy we want to leave behind  I remember finishing my master’s degree in Social Work thinking that I was equipped to help others who struggled with addiction because I had a family member that went through rehab for substance abuse. I had worked in both adult detox and adolescent drug
and alcohol during my early career so I’ve seen what this disease can do to a person and their family. When hearing about Dr Campbell’s struggle with addiction, I felt his story needed to be
told because it reminds us that doctors are human and make mistakes. It’s his continued faith, courage, and humility that has not only made him a better man and a better father but also a bet-
ter physician.

In the coming months you will get to know Dr. Campbell and hear more about his road to recovery with his new column called “The Comeback Kid.” He hopes his story will inspire, encourage and at times even entertain us by demonstrating that with grace, forgiveness and some hard work you can make it back on top.