Nursing Student with a Drug Addiction

Nurses Recovery

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Hi guys:

I have already asked this question on the Friends/Family of Addicts forum I belong to, so I thought I would get your opinion as well.

My husband is a 3 1/2 years clean, recovering addict. His good friend (I'll call him J), who he met in AA, recently got accepted into nursing school for this coming fall 2011. J was clean for 3 years when he relapsed this past fall 2010 (heroin, pills, alcohol). J continues to use, is refusing to go into rehab, and as far as I know plans to start nursing school in the fall, clean/sober or not. I have three main concerns: 1. the waiting list is very long and he will be taking a spot from someone who would better take advantage of the program, 2. J will be impaired and having patient contact, and I worry about the patients he may be responsible for, 3. At some point he will have access to narcotics that he will be able to steal.

Now, the F/F of Addicts people mostly just said to let the situation be, and that J would fail out on his own anyways. But I feel as if I should contact the nursing school to let them know (I went to the same nursing school). Because who knows how long it will take him to fail on his own, and how many patients/narcotics he will have contact with, besides the fact that someone else will have to wait another semester to get into the program if he takes the spot.

So what do you all think? Should I contact the school?

(Feel free to move this to another forum topic; I didn't think it fit great in the Nurses in Recovery forum since he is not yet a nurse, or in recovery).

Thanks everyone!

Vanessa

Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Well most if not all nursing schools drug test within 24 hours of orientation. You must go within a specified time and usually their isn't must warning. If they use on a daily basis as they clamin or you suspect it'll show. Thye drug screen for nurses is more in-depth that for many other jobs and nursing students are given this one.

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Specializes in FNP.
As the wife of a (now recovering) addict, I have learned that I am not a co-dependent. My concern has nothing to do with J and wanting to get him clean, or my gain in this. My only "mission" is to possibly prevent future harm to patients; I do not at all understand how any of this is "self-serving" or what I stand to gain in this. I am not "bent" on an agenda and wanting "validation." I simply have my opinion on what I should do and am trying to find others' opinions to decide if what I think is correct or not. Also, the F/F people are not experts that I talked with, they are simply other friends/family like myself. I apologize for coming to a board to ask for opinions on a difficult situation and apparently pushing some button with you.

I think it just sounds like manufactured drama to most of us b/c we know that you getting involved is going to make ZERO difference. The school can't do anything on your say so, and they are going to drug test him anyway, it is routine. You inserting yourself into this situation helps no one and potentially makes for a lot of conflict that is easily avoidable by minding your own business. Sorry you didn't get the response you were hoping for.

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actually, snitching is the least of the problems here.

i've always been a believer in karma, recognizing that sometimes, being proactive is warranted.

however, it seems you're focused on wanting to report this person...

which is why you are seeking advice from here.

if you do this, i would do so anonymously.

do not mention you attended the school, but you can share the hx of how you came to know.

and then drop it...forever.

you will have done what you sought out to do, and it'll be on the school as to what they do with this info.

much luck.

leslie:)

I also believe in karma. Anonymously sounds like a good plan. And not even saying his name gives them the opportunity to drug test everyone (since as I said, I don't remember being tested when starting school there, but that could just be my memory failing). And the way J is heading, I want to drop the situation and any involvement as quickly as possible. Thanks for the advice. :)

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
I do not know of any nursing school or medical center that you could ever attend/be employed at that one would not have to take a drug test and agree to random testing at the centers discretion. If he is using, he will be found out. If he stays sober, good for him.

I got all the way through nursing school and have had two different jobs post-graduation without ever having taken a drug test.

I have (thankfully) little to no experience with drug addicts in either my personal or professional life, so I really don't know what advice to give the OP, but just wanted to say that I don't think you can automatically assume that he'll get caught.

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I think it just sounds like manufactured drama to most of us b/c we know that you getting involved is going to make ZERO difference. The school can't do anything on your say so, and they are going to drug test him anyway, it is routine. You inserting yourself into this situation helps no one and potentially makes for a lot of conflict that is easily avoidable by minding your own business. Sorry you didn't get the response you were hoping for.

It is perfectly fine if I get a response opposite of what I originally thought I should do. And this is why I am asking if I should do anything...I don't know if it would make any difference, and I want to see what others think. And once again, I went to the same school and do not remember ever being drug tested, while I do remember being tested at all my other nursing/nursing aide jobs.

Why are people on this forum so rude sometimes? You don't know me or my motives...why just assume that I am some horrible person trying to get attention? Do people just like being hostile and mean? You can tell me you think I shouldn't contact the school without being so argumentative about it. Sorry for interrupting your day.

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He has admitted to doing everything I have said. I am 100% sure he has relapsed. He and my husband are (were) quite close. He was drinking in front of my husband, his girlfriend has found his needles and heroin & has seen him doing pills and drinking, and he has admitted to doing heroin, alcohol and pills on a daily basis.

He was drinking in front of your husband, big whoop. Even if that is in violation of his probation it's not your problem. His girlfriend found drug paraphernalia and possibly drugs. If she finds the need, she can call the school and ask for a drug test. You sound like a 3rd or even 4th party of all these incidents. That means the story could have changed multiple times from person to person.

Even if your husband wants to call the school that seems a lot more understandable. You have no reason to be this involved in a man's life as you are if he's just one of your husbands past friends. The school will take care of it if they find any of problem.

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Specializes in LTC.

He should be drug tested when admitted into the program. So, I would think that would be enough right there and no reason for you to have to get involved. Good Luck!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
He should be drug tested when admitted into the program. So, I would think that would be enough right there and no reason for you to have to get involved. Good Luck!

Not all nursing schools require drug testing. Mine didn't, and OP has stated she went to the same nursing school that this person is about to enter, and doesn't remember ever being drug tested. If she knew this nursing school did drug testing, I doubt she would have started this thread in the first place.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think you should anonymosly (sp?) report him. I mean what if he graduates and continues to use and then really have access to a bunch of narcotics. As nurses we are supposed to advocate for our patients and I feel that patients can really suffer if he steals their pain meds!

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OK, well thank you to everyone for your responses. I just had a long talk with my dad about this, and remembering back to nursing school....it took awhile before we were able to pass meds, and even then, the instructor was with us. And it is not as if you have a patient's life completely in your hands when you start clinicals (or even in your last semester of clinicals)...there is always someone watching over you to some extent. As far gone in his addiction J is (and yes, he is, despite all of you saying that I have no idea what he is doing), the people who are saying he probably won't even make it to class/clinicals are more than likely right. So I am done thinking about J or this situation. I am not going to say anything to the school. Even if he miraculously makes it through nursing school, I don't see how he can get, or keep, a job. At least I always can in the future say something if for some reason I can't get this off my conscience. Again, thanks for your polite, well-worded and thought-out opinions!

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Oh, and as a response to the anonymous suggestion that I previously thought was a good idea...anonymous accusations would not be taken very seriously in my opinion, and would be a waste of time. But again, as I said, that can always be an option in the future if need be.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
OK, well thank you to everyone for your responses. I just had a long talk with my dad about this, and remembering back to nursing school....it took awhile before we were able to pass meds, and even then, the instructor was with us. And it is not as if you have a patient's life completely in your hands when you start clinicals (or even in your last semester of clinicals)...there is always someone watching over you to some extent. As far gone in his addiction J is (and yes, he is, despite all of you saying that I have no idea what he is doing), the people who are saying he probably won't even make it to class/clinicals are more than likely right. So I am done thinking about J or this situation. I am not going to say anything to the school. Even if he miraculously makes it through nursing school, I don't see how he can get, or keep, a job. At least I always can in the future say something if for some reason I can't get this off my conscience. Again, thanks for your polite, well-worded and thought-out opinions!

Hopefully he will be clean and sober by then :D and maybe he can get a job advocating against drugs and be a community nurse and aid in helping others to get clean.

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