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

As nurses we are supposed to advocate for our patients and I feel that patients can really suffer if he steals their pain meds!

shame on you, butterflies!:nono:

don't you know that we are supposed to mind our own business, regardless of the risk for detriment involved?

it's the american way.:cool:

i do agree that most situations do not warrant intervention.

this is one that i wouldn't know what to do, with all of this info i was sitting on.

i like the op's idea of anonymous reporting, and having all drug-tested (not revealing anyone's identity).

somehow, i'd like to see this randomized, so no one sees it coming.

yes, we share the same concerns.

more than anything, i pray for j's enlightenment and healing.

leslie

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.

:) One can only hope. My husband works in a drug rehab now, and is an AA sponsor. It is definitely amazing how someone can turn their life around and begin to help others when previously, they could not even help themselves.

shame on you, butterflies!:nono:

don't you know that we are supposed to mind our own business, regardless of the risk for detriment involved?

it's the american way.:cool:

leslie

Hahaha...exactly! That was my one view...I didn't want to be the "Oh, who cares? It doesn't affect me in any way, so I am not gonna get involved" person.

Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
:) One can only hope. My husband works in a drug rehab now, and is an AA sponsor. It is definitely amazing how someone can turn their life around and begin to help others when previously, they could not even help themselves.

Lets hope for the best, your husband overcame it and we know its possible. Addiction is a terrible disease. Good Luck to all! ;)

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't say SOMETHING to SOMEONE! Hopefully he will be drug tested before the situation gets any worse.

Specializes in Med Surge, Tele, Oncology, Wound Care.

Drug test or not, an addict can find a way to pass it...

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't say SOMETHING to SOMEONE! Hopefully he will be drug tested before the situation gets any worse.

And I very well may not be able to live with myself either. School doesn't start until late August, so there is some time. Even though I have decided not to call now, does not mean that I can't change my mind in the future. Thanks for your support.

Drug test or not, an addict can find a way to pass it...

Oh so very true! :) At the drug rehab where my husband works, they have to actually watch the guys pee in the cup to make sure it is their urine. There was a fake member going around trying to get around that! Amazing the things that drugs will make people do!

I'd really enjoy peeing in front of someone with a fake member, since I'm a woman and all. LOL. You know, just to see if they're paying attention.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Tough situation- but in most states I know of, as a licenced professional you have a legal obligation to report a suspected drug problem to the supervising body- in this case the school. It's part of your professional ethics. On the other hand, violating the anonymity of a person you know through a recovery program is in violation of the statutes of the recovery group. I think you have a professional obligation to report your suspisions to the school. Because of the nature of of most recovery programs I feel you should insist on anonymity yourself with any action they take, but your responsibility to patient safety is paramount in this situation.

Basically you have to see if your decisions is going to effect you at all..if not, do what you feel is necessary. Me - I would try to inform somebody, because you never know what patient he could be dealing with. What if the patient is your mother or father?...he's putting lives a risk!...

If he can pass nursing school, he will have proven himself able 1. To be sober (if he's using drugs before clinicals he'll be kicked out), 2. to care for patients without putting their lives in danger. If he uses drugs recreationally that's his personal business and you are not in any position to contact the school.

Let your husband's friend have a chance at being successful. Perhaps he will stop using drugs when he is pushing for his goals.

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