What is your opinion/knowledge base on recovery programs?

[Magsulfate]

I see that this catagory has been slow moving lately and I wanted to start a new thread with a different direction. I would like to get everyone's opinion (even the people that have never suffered with addiction). What do you think about your state's peer assistance/recovery program? Do you think it is too harsh or not harsh enough? What state are you in, and do you know the rules or guidelines of your states recovering nurses program?

I just want to get a general view of nurses' education on the matter. I have noticed lately in my hospital that the nurses do not know that there is a recovery program out there. They don't know that there are options and many are scared to report someone, especially if it is their friend. They are scared to report themselves if they need help.

I know that there are more impaired nurses out there than any of us want to admit. I think that if we were educated more on the matter, we could get a better grasp on the situation.

[comp]

michigoose, I'm glad you're doing well. But understand patients who go through the program in your position of having been caught first or having their lives saved tend to have a positive impression, because of the situation you came from. I can't go into detail of my situation for fear of reprisal, but many like me never had an addiction problem or legal problem or caught doing anything. We had false reports against us or other similar circumstances, and we are treated like criminals who are guilty until we can prove our innocence. worse still we have to prove it to an organization like the Michigan Health Professional's Recovery Program (HPRP) who makes money by condemning us of being guilty. I don't know how your states program is run but I am doubtful it's any better. I would bring legal action against HPRP if I could.

I would appreciate if others who have been wronged by HPRP help me to get the word out about what this organization really is in hopes of changing the way thing are done, so hopefully in the future we can clear our names and pursue our careers. Perhaps we can get a reporter interested in our stories? Please let me know if anyone has any ideas how we can go on the offensive with HPRP.