The Vermont Practitioner Health Program (VPHP) is a program of the Vermont Medical Society. Its current purpose is to protect the public by facilitating the early identification, treatment, and rehabilitation of individual providers of health services who are impaired or at risk for impairment by the excessive use of drugs, including alcohol. Physicians (M.D.s and D.O.s), podiatrists, physician assistants, radiologist assistants and anesthesiologist assistants are eligible to participate in the program. Referrals come from the Vermont Board of Medical Practice (VBMP) as well as colleagues, family members, friends, patients and also self-referrals. Except in a limited number of circumstances that trigger reporting to the VBMP, such as harm to patients, services are provided to participants on a confidential basis and VPHP will not release any information concerning participants without a signed release from the participant.