Caduceus   

A Support Group for Professionals in Recovery

The Caduceus Symbol

Caduceus is the symbolic staff surmounted by two wings and entwined with two snakes. Among the ancient Greeks, heralds and ambassadors carried the Caduceus as a badge of office and a mark of personal inviolability.

 The Caduceus was the  staff of the Greek god of healing.

The staff of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, which was entwined by a single snake, was also called a Caduceus. The Caduceus has been adopted as a symbol by the medical profession; it is also the emblem of the medical branches of the United States Army and Navy.

The Caduceus Group

In 1973, the Caduceus Group was initiated in Georgia as a component of the Georgia Impaired Physicians Program. A Caduceus Group was formed in Casper in 1983. The two most evident and valuable results of the Caduceus Group have been the number of impaired health professionals who have been able to get into treatment by intervention or self-realization, and the large number of impaired health professionals for whom the Caduceus Group has provided a bridge into Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

The Caduceus Group can be looked at as a bridge.

It is important to note that the various Caduceus Groups are regarded as both educational and therapeutic centers for recovering health professionals. In turn, the recovering health professionals provide a *ripple effect* into their community with their attitudes, views, influence, and teaching going out into the families, schools, service organization and to other health professionals.

In summary, the Caduceus Group can be looked upon as a bridge. A bridge between effective treatment and continuing care and a bridge into the twelve step recovery programs and recovery.
 

Meeting Format

All Caduceus meetings should be conducted using the following guidelines:

Although Caduceus was begun as a support group for medical professional, it is now open to recovering professionals from all fields. It is not necessary to be a member of WPAP to attend Caduceus meetings.

Unlike traditional twelve-step groups, one member should be appointed to facilitate the meeting.

The facilitator is responsible for:*
*1. Completing and returning the necessary paperwork to the Executive Director of WPAP.
*2. Turning in any paperwork brought by the attendees to the Executuve Director of WPAP.

Signs and Symptoms of Recovery
*Willingness to talk about significant recovery issues
*Apply the steps in your every day life
*Actively working with a sponsor
*Attending and participating in 12-step meetings on a regular basis
*Fullfilling all aspects of your monitoring agreements
*Willingness to be an advocate for your own health

Meeting Locations & Times

Casper
The 12/24 Club
136 W. 8th Street
6:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Mondays of each month

Cheyenne:
Dr. Haller*s Office
123 Cole Shopping Center
7:00 p.m.
1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month

Evanston:
Evanston Regional Hospital
190 Arrowhead Dr
5:00 p.m.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month

Gillette:
Campbell County Memorial Hospital
Ground Floor Conference Room #
7:00 p.m.
1st Monday of each month

Powell:
Hope Lutheran Church
Cary and Avenue *H*
6:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Mondays of each month

Sheridan:
1822 Edwards
7:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month

Note:
Statewide meetings will be held in Casper on the 2nd Saturdays in March and September 2004. Meetings start at 1:30 pm. Attendance at these meetings is expected of all WPAP clients.