In this edition, we will take flight into a topic that holds paramount importance in aviation: addressing substance abuse. This topic may be uncomfortable, but it's essential to discuss it openly and candidly because the safety of passengers, crew, and the success of flights depend on the sobriety of aviation professionals.Substance abuse in aviation was definitely a topic I planned to talk about on The Flight Shrink at some point, but after my attendance at the HIMS Basic Education Seminar last weekend I wanted to get this out there now.HIMS is an acronym and stands for Human Intervention Motivational Study.  Before last weekend I thought this was an FAA program, but really it is an industry-wide effort where the airlines, pilots, healthcare professionals, and the FAA work together to preserve pilot careers and enhance air safety.