Drug addicted nurses

Nurses Recovery

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I am a nursing student and in one of my classes we have recently talked about nurses and substance abuse. I think that it is hard for me to wrap my brain around the issue. My questions are:

1. what do you do as a fellow nurse and friend of someone who is involved in substance abuse...especially in the workplace?

2. is this really prevelent and have any of you been put in this position?

Thanks!!

I didn't mean to come across as over-simplifying the matter. I think that at the DEEP DOWN CORE, one has to choose to stop, not to use, and get help.

I understand that after one makes that choice, a lot more goes into recovery and sobriety than just saying no and quitting. I didn't mean to minimize the importance of therapy, rehab, and support, because I do realize how important these things are. I think we all do.

Thank you EDValerie RN,

I am sorry that I misunderstood you. We are in complete agreemenent. Krissy RN

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My dad was a functioning alcoholic and a pill addict. He was also the most loving father you could ever imagine. He worked hard, made a great living, and was kind and loving to everyone. He was the best human geing I have ever known. The only thing he didn't do was protect my sister and I from my mom who was NOT an addict, but mentally ill and abused us emotionally. First of all, as a kid it NEVER would have occured to me to turn my father in anywhere. I adored him, and my greatest fear was that he would disappear from my life. He eventually died a few years ago. He died from an unrelated death at 81. I never went to DARE or JUST SAY NO. I am sure they didn't exist then. BUT I never would have wanted him taken away from me, and I never would have "turned him in" no matter what. Being an addict did not make him a bad dad. He loved me with all his heart and never did anything to hurt me-only himself. I was not mature enough to understand about the illness of addiction. If he were alive now, and the drugs or alcohol were affecting his mental and physical health, I would have an intervention. As a child, I knew nothing about what his problem was or what it meant. All I knew is that I loved and needed him so much. To hurt him by turning him in to the authorities would have hurt him and me much more than anything he ever did while taking pills or drinking. I do not think it is the place of a child to turn his or her parents in. There are other family problems and aLL KINDS OF ABUSE THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE ADDICTION. It is up to the adults who see what is going on to do what is necessary to HELP the parents and the family.

My mother was very ill mentally, and everyone knew it. No one did a thing. She was the problem, not my dad. Just because someone is an addict does not necessarily make them a bad person to be taken away from their kids.

Krisssy RN

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Specializes in Urgent Care.
Well, I guess it proves the point, I've always maintained: Florida is a socially backward state. Hate to tell you this, DARE is alive and well, here in Florida. I just attended a school program put on by my grandson's fifth grade class and officers of the Charlotte County Sheriffs Department, using DARE.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Thats to bad. DARE is alive and doing more poorly by the year locally. Some schools have droped it and others still use it.

from the website http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1432/a05.html?397

Federal judge Virginia Phillips, in a case involving DARE America's libel suit against Rolling Stone magazine, ruled that there was "substantial truth" to the charges that DARE had sought to "suppress scientific research" critical of DARE and had "attempted to silence researchers at the Research Triangle Institute, editors at the American Journal of Public Health, and producers at 'Dateline.NBC'

AND

DARE's feel-good photo opportunities are no substitute for effective drug education. American children deserve something more than a drug program that fails to persuasively inform and warn them of the danger of narcotics. Politicians, school officials, and police need the courage to admit that DARE is a dud.

and from another website rapidnet.com

Another key element in the DARE program is Values Clarification, a process by which children are reprogrammed to set aside their parent's values and determine for themselves the values in life they wish to hold. It was the brainchild in the mid-1960s of social "scientists" -- in particular, Louis E. Raths, Merrill Harmin, and Sidney B. Simon. The Wall Street Journal clearly defines what is meant by values clarification:

"Teachers should never try to teach children correct values. To tell a student stealing is wrong or that kindness and loyalty are good values, would be, according to Values Clarification, to manipulate and coerce a student. Teachers should help students discover and clarify their own personal values instead of trying to force someone else's values on them."

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Thats to bad. DARE is alive and doing more poorly by the year locally. Some schools have droped it and others still use it.

from the website http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1432/a05.html?397

Federal judge Virginia Phillips, in a case involving DARE America's libel suit against Rolling Stone magazine, ruled that there was "substantial truth" to the charges that DARE had sought to "suppress scientific research" critical of DARE and had "attempted to silence researchers at the Research Triangle Institute, editors at the American Journal of Public Health, and producers at 'Dateline.NBC'

AND

DARE's feel-good photo opportunities are no substitute for effective drug education. American children deserve something more than a drug program that fails to persuasively inform and warn them of the danger of narcotics. Politicians, school officials, and police need the courage to admit that DARE is a dud.

and from another website rapidnet.com

Another key element in the DARE program is Values Clarification, a process by which children are reprogrammed to set aside their parent's values and determine for themselves the values in life they wish to hold. It was the brainchild in the mid-1960s of social "scientists" -- in particular, Louis E. Raths, Merrill Harmin, and Sidney B. Simon. The Wall Street Journal clearly defines what is meant by values clarification:

"Teachers should never try to teach children correct values. To tell a student stealing is wrong or that kindness and loyalty are good values, would be, according to Values Clarification, to manipulate and coerce a student. Teachers should help students discover and clarify their own personal values instead of trying to force someone else's values on them."[/quote

Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee Counties all have problems with teenage drug addiction and alcohol abuse problems. We also have problems with our students passing FICA testing and graduating from high school. The answer of our Board of Education and our Sheriff's Department is to use the DARE program. I and my daughter and SIL have taken it upon ourselves to teach our children about illegal drug abuse. And we do not use any of the cute catch words so popular with DARE. I have told my 14 year old granddaughter, that yes I tried weed, when I was 19. I also told her it was not a pleasant mind altering experience for me. She has expressed little interest in trying drugs and I hope she keeps this in mind, when she enters high school next Fall.

Grannynurse:balloons:

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In no way am I bashsing any nurse. I myself have legal issues and board issues. I just think that by going to the board instead of having the intergrity to approach that person in private and give them the chance to turn things around or you WILL GO TO THE BOARD. I just think that to cross state lines to report a nurse who entrusted all nurses on this board is evil and malicious. The girl will do one of three things. Get caught, Go to Jail, or hurt a patient. Nothing good will come of it. She has to learn on her own. I reserve my situation anymore due to people that are on here seeking to report nurses to boards.

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First, you have see the TV commercials which are thirty second spots.

I have. And what you claim isn't there. It also isn't there at the link provided by another.

Try going into the school programs.

The link was posted, it wasn't there.

Second, you may resent all you wish. I grew up post WWII. A large number of children were indoctrinated to turn their parents into the authorities, during WWII and post that period.

Addiction is a family illness, not a personal one. We aren't talking about accusing people of something they aren't, we are talking about a major illness that harms children.

Using children to provide evidence, by turning their parent in, violates our rights under our Constitution.

Oh really? Please provide proof of this. Show me where it says in the Constitution that a child should not be encouraged to say no to drugs and if they have problems at home they are not permitted to express those problems to school staff? EVEN WHEN ASKED. I'll wait for you to post your proof.

And I am not advocating a child hide his suspected parent's so called addiction, I object to the violation of our rights.

Sure you are. You most certainly are advocating a child hide his suspected parent's addiction so it won't violate the PARENT'S rights. And I'm still waiting for you to post the part of the constitution to defend your claim.

And by the way, my mother was an alcoholic. She never admitted to it, never sought treatment. And I never forced her to. I just accepted her, with all her faults, she was my mother.

I wanted mine to live and I wanted her to live a happy life. I *did* force her into treatment several times. She didn't want to get better. I can still accept someone for who and what they are while wanting them to seek treatment for a deadly illness and live a happy life.

We could not possibly disagree more on just about every issue discussed in these posts.

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I have. And what you claim isn't there. It also isn't there at the link provided by another.

The link was posted, it wasn't there.

Sorry, I didn't post a link. And I suggested that you go to a few school programs, not visit some website.

Addiction is a family illness, not a personal one. We aren't talking about accusing people of something they aren't, we are talking about a major illness that harms children.

Dear me, then we should remove every child from any home that might harm the child or children, just to save them. According to you, I should have turned my mother in, she drank and it impacted on my life. And don't forget, she suffered from a major illness.

Oh really? Please provide proof of this. Show me where it says in the Constitution that a child should not be encouraged to say no to drugs and if they have problems at home they are not permitted to express those problems to school staff? EVEN WHEN ASKED. I'll wait for you to post your proof.

It doesn't say anything in the Constitution about a child reporting a parent. It does give the parent certain rights. And if you think that encouraging a child to talk to the school resource officer is the right thing, try to remember the impact that this will have on the child, the parents and society in general. In a misguided attempt to save a child you are potentially destroying a family, placing the child in the foster care system, that has an amasingly poor track record. And anyone in the school district who asked my grandchildren about anything that goes on in our home, they will be facing a lawsuit. And I guantee I will win.

Sure you are. You most certainly are advocating a child hide his suspected parent's addiction so it won't violate the PARENT'S rights. And I'm still waiting for you to post the part of the constitution to defend your claim.

I wanted mine to live and I wanted her to live a happy life. I *did* force her into treatment several times. She didn't want to get better. I can still accept someone for who and what they are while wanting them to seek treatment for a deadly illness and live a happy life.

We could not possibly disagree more on just about every issue discussed in these posts.

Either you learn to accept your parent's illness or you will be frustrated to no end when they do not wish to seek treatment. You can't live another person's life and trying is a waste of time and energy. And you haven't accepted her illness, if you continue to force her into treatment.

You are right, we couldn't agree on any issue discussed in this thread. You want to be police officer, judge and jury. I don't want to be any of them. And I also do not want my grandchildren being encouraged to report me or their parents for any suspected drug use. It is not the schools business and maybe they should spend more time and money on teachinh children reading, writing and math, instead oof how to be a snitch on their parents.

Grannynurse:balloons:

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I understand what you are saying and I agree it is a family issue, however to go after a nurse as so far as to cross reference a name which is what someone sent me a thread that they did just that. They cross referenced her name, then reported her to the board. I simply dont agree. I live this life myself and I am staying clean. She has to want to do this on her own. I think to report someone by tracking them down puts a downer on this board because you cant share freely. They say in NA and AA that what is said here stays here. I see your point if she has children but to go after her paycheck. That will do nothing but make her use even more. There are other means such as warning her first to get the help she needs or you will go to the board. To just up and go is viscious attack on her and her family due to lack of paycheck on top of everything else. She has to hit rock bottom on her own to finally want and get the help. Obviously if I see a nurse at work using I would report to the charge RN or Director but this board is confidential. It should stay here only. What can I say. Nurses eat there young. Its a fact. Whoever did report her must feel proud now.

I dont agree at all. There is interventions, tell her to check in to rehab etc before you go to board. This is why I dont share anything about myself on this board any further. It is taken and ran with. Sad.

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Either you learn to accept your parent's illness or you will be frustrated to no end when they do not wish to seek treatment. You can't live another person's life and trying is a waste of time and energy. And you haven't accepted her illness, if you continue to force her into treatment.

As explained ealier, my Mom is dead due to alcohol issues. My Dad was subjected to the same forced treatment and was clean and sober for the last 20 years of his life. He thanked me for 20 years for petitioning him three times.

Now that we have my personal information out of the way let me tell you that you are invoking a straw man here. I responded to your post and you are writing about something that isn't even at issue in order to dodge the actual topic. Perhaps this is to avoid defending your claims I called you on.

I'm still waiting for you to show me where in the constitution it says that a school cannot ask a child if there are drug problems at home, or... listen if the child wants to tell of drug/alcohol problems at home.

You are right, we couldn't agree on any issue discussed in this thread. You want to be police officer, judge and jury. I don't want to be any of them. And I also do not want my grandchildren being encouraged to report me or their parents for any suspected drug use. It is not the schools business and maybe they should spend more time and money on teachinh children reading, writing and math, instead oof how to be a snitch on their parents.

Nope, no desire to be in law enforcement (and quite likely why I chose medicine) but I do happen to think the welfare of the child outweighs the parents "right" to abuse that child due to addiction. I want you to defend your claim and show me where in the constitution a teacher is unable to ask about family problems, more specifically... drug problems of her student. YOU wrote it is in the constitution. I've read the thing and I never read any such nonsense. Please, stop dodging the topic and enlighten me a bit.

While you are at it, you are free to defend your other claim that the "just say no" programs encourages little children to turn in their drug abusing and alcoholic parents. (As if that is a bad thing anyway, the horror of it all! Helping little kids through the emotional turmoil of addicted parents!)

However, we both know that isn't likely to happen, is it?

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I understand what you are saying and I agree it is a family issue, however to go after a nurse as so far as to cross reference a name which is what someone sent me a thread that they did just that. They cross referenced her name, then reported her to the board. I simply dont agree. I live this life myself and I am staying clean. She has to want to do this on her own. I think to report someone by tracking them down puts a downer on this board because you cant share freely. They say in NA and AA that what is said here stays here. I see your point if she has children but to go after her paycheck. That will do nothing but make her use even more. There are other means such as warning her first to get the help she needs or you will go to the board. To just up and go is viscious attack on her and her family due to lack of paycheck on top of everything else. She has to hit rock bottom on her own to finally want and get the help. Obviously if I see a nurse at work using I would report to the charge RN or Director but this board is confidential. It should stay here only. What can I say. Nurses eat there young. Its a fact. Whoever did report her must feel proud now.

I dont agree at all. There is interventions, tell her to check in to rehab etc before you go to board. This is why I dont share anything about myself on this board any further. It is taken and ran with. Sad.

I think you misunderstood the situation I described. It WAS a nurse working with me, and she not only used on the job but was busted for forging stolen prescriptions. She then used her stockpile of meds to attempt suicide, all while 6 months pregnant. It was not just me who sent an anonymous tip to the Georgia BON, I did it with three coworkers at my last job. That was because this nurse was not only a danger to herself, but also to her patients. I never cross-referenced anything. I said that I figured the BON could do that with Alabama's BON. I'm not seeking to randomly turn people into the board. I'm not evil or malicious as you have described me. This nurse was absolutely out of control, and by the anonymous tip we hope that if she DID manage to get a job where she handled narcs on another license, she will be safely removed from the situation.

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I can appreciate cross referencing however this nurse has to want to get help on her own. I do however agree patient safety is number one. I myself am working on this, staying clean daily and doing 12 step meetings. I feel empathy for this girl. She is running from some feeling in her life. It doesnt work. I tried for a long time. In the end you face criminal charges, state board issues and a low self esteem. I hope by doing what is asked of me now things will fall into place. I get counseling every week and go to numerous meetings. I also randomly submit to ua screens. I pray daily. It will be a lifetime battle but I embrace my fellow nurses with this same affliction.

As do I, which is why two other nurses and I made the decision to leave the tip that we did.

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loriAlabamaRN,

Ever heard of karma?

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