Advice please, re Narcotic Diversion/Rx Forgery

QuigRN · Jan 31, 2006

Ahh, Thank you Quig those are the first positive words I have heard from anyone! Kadian is a long acting morphine, Actiq is a quick acting fentanyl for breakthru pain, Lyrica is a new drug similar to cymbalta, it is supposed to work on peripheral neuropathy pain. I really loved my job and would like to keep my license. I honestly believe that my former employer would take me back. We will see, any other advice?

Just hang on and try to keep positive and try to find a way to stay within the guidelines of your pain management program. People can be very understanding when they know the specifics. But be honest at all times because this will help you more than anything. Good luck!!

flashpoint · Jan 31, 2006

A friend of mine did something similar and was able to keep his license with a lot of STRICT guidelines. #1...He would have random drugs tests 30 times a year...at his expense for one year...after that, there would be random drug screens at least 12 times a year for four years. #2...for one year, he could not work at all unless he was intensely supervised by another nurse...he could not have his own patients, he could not go in a room alone, he could not give ANY meds without his "supervisor" co-signing him. Year two, he could not give any narcotics. Years three and four he can give narcotics with a co-signer who has to witness him taking meds out of Pyxis and administering them. Year five...I can't remember what his restrictions are as far as giving meds. #3...He cannot enter any bar or any establishment that serves alcohol (he also had a problem with alcohol) for five years. #4...He meets weekly with a drug / alcohol / addiction counselor...again at his expense. If he misses a meeting without a really good excuse, he can lose his license.

Right now, he is in the middle of this third year of probation...a lot of times things are so strict that he feels like giving up, but so far he is doing well.

I wish you the best of luck.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2006

You know this is a very dicey and dangerous subject, legally. I must STRONGLY caution you from sharing too much here and also to "lawyer up" ASAP. You may be incriminating yourself at this very moment, posting all this here. Please, please, get legal advice. I would really be careful what you say here from this point on.

I am so sorry you are suffering, but this is not the place for advice on such deep and troubling legal issues. Please, get help for your legal and physical woes soon. I really do wish you the very best.

ACNP · Jan 31, 2006

Speaking from the perspective of a NP who used to deal with pain management patients, have you informed your present pain MD about calling in these Lortab prescriptions? If so, have you also set up a narcotic contract? Honestly, I would have pressed charges against you for falsifying information and obtaining C-III narcotics. I prosecuted 3 patients for calling in pain meds under my name where I used to work. They were caught when the pharmacy tipped our office off as to what was going on. Three other NPs in the practice in different cities also had their DEA numbers abused and pressed charges as well against other patients. I worked too hard for my license as well as to have the ability to prescribe narcotics to put it in jeopardy. You have to seriously think of what could have happened if say you overdosed from taking too many Lortab or if someone else had gotten their hands on the pills.

Have you thought about a morphine pump or even a nerve stimulator? For a chronic pain situation such as yours it is worth investigating and try to reduce the number of pain meds. Sorry to sound harsh but you got off lucky with the MD not pressing charges.

RNZenpeaceful · Jan 31, 2006

First, let me give you a GREAT BIG HUG! I am a recovering addict RN, who has lost my license for 3 long years, due to narcotic diversion...I am a single mother of 3, with a mortgage, college tuition for my middle child, and no job for many months now. No, I do not have a husband, rich boyfriend, or parents to help me out. This has been an absolutely horrifying experience, with pain and suffering beyond my wildest dreams: loss of license, subsequent loss of "friends", debtors calling, people I barely now saying such helpful things as "You made your bed, now you must lie in it!" I have found that what 99% of all persons who want to know what happened to me don't really want to know at all, what they really want to hear the words, "I am totally responsible for the addiction and every thing that went along with it." No one wants to hear about your physical pain from disease or illness (i have ulcerative colitis, and my problem with narcotics began with an episode of toxic megacolon, in which I was septic and almost died)No one wants to hear about your mental anguish from verbal abuse from a terrible marriage, or severe depression that you suffered after your baby died, or really, any other sad and soul-stealing event. There are so many, many self-righteous people out there! I send you a hug because you do have a long way to go. But remember this: you are not a bad person who used drugs(I know that you did have a real physical problem needing pain relief-I am not making a judgement. My feeling has always been: "there by the grace of God go I." and this was long before my own addiction problem) YOU are a sick person trying to get well, and so am I!. Most defintitely go to rehab-in addition to helping you, the BON will look favorably upon you trying to help yourself. Jail? I really doubt it, epecially if this is your first time, and you agree to "jump through all the hoops" given to you: rehab, NA/AA and professional support meetings, an appointment with an addiction doctor, and counseling. The best people to talk to are other nurses with past or current addiction problems . Seldom have a met/talked with a person who never had a devastating illness, injury, or emotional assault, followed by an addiction problem, and yet will somehow know what to say that is both appropriate, helpful, and kind. I have been looking for a non-clinical position that will use my many years of clinical education and experience, and suffice to say, it has not been easy. I looked at a website called "Nurses In Recovery" for suggested career options; among those were clinical research and office nurse positions. Reality? As soon, (and I do mean "as soon"!) as the prospective employer hears the words, "suspended license," I am escorted rather rudely, "out the door!"But I am making progress! I no longer cry, but turn and give the nicest smile possilbe, and say, "Good luck in your quest for the perfect candidate" or "thanks for showing me your beautiful facility!"

Remember too, God is not punishing you...I can't pretend to know WHY this is happening to you, any more than knowing why it is happening to me. I sincerely hope that you have at least one best friend/husband/soulmate that you can call and talk to any time, because having someone( I have a friend and former co-worker who has also had addiction problems and is an RN)is the NUMBER ONE thing that has helped me over the past year! If you would like to know anything else that has happened to me as far as my RN licenseand the Voluntary Recovery Program that I am in..please, please write me either in this forum or privately. My intelligent guess as to what is to happen to you is that if you do go to rehab, you will be told by the BON to join the Voluntary Recovery Program in your state. You will be told not to work as a nurse for at least 6 months. When you do return to work, it will be with a "restricted license" and you will not be allowed to give out narcotics for at least 6 months. (and if you work in certain places deemed to be "high stress", like ER-where I worked, ICU, OR, flight nursing, etc, you will not be allowed to return there for some time; ironically, a friend of mine got a position on an oncology floor, believe it or not (all those narcotics!)

Hang in there, things will take a turn for the better! ...frannie

Lady InPain · Jan 31, 2006

Thank you all for so much advice, I have searched High and low on the net looking for any type of information on this subject to no vail. Francescafree

I am sorry to hear of all of your woes, the hardest part is having no one to talk to about your situation. I have said many times in the last several weeks, I made my bed and now I have to lie in it. But the really sad part is, all I want to do IS lie in a bed! Hopefully I can keep my head above the water and take care of these things as they come and use it as rehab mentally and physically.

Thank you all so much,

Lady InPain vbmenu_register("postmenu_1502317", true);

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2006

You would not have to go off of your legitimate meds in rehab. You seriously need treatment. The very thought of calling in scripts and writting scripts is scary. Did you turn yourself in or get caught? Good luck, I hope you get the help and relief that you need.

jerseyboy · Jan 31, 2006

Dutchgirl said you wouldn't have to go off of your legitimate meds in rehab. Think again. The reason being is... rehabs don't know the difference between someone who has developed a tolerance to pain medication for chronic pain and an addict. Everyone is an addict in their eyes. Even the teenager who gets drunk or experiments with drugs. I just haven't decided if they do this becaue they are ignorant, or they need a billable diagnosis. I think maybe a little of both.

leslie :-D · Jan 31, 2006

and i can't emphasize enough, PLEASE get yourself an attorney.

that should be your number 1 priority now.

much luck to you with your future and recovery.

leslie

Judee Smudee, ADN, RN · Feb 1, 2006

I on the other hand feel bad for your situation and believe you were driven to desperate acts by chronic pain. What is the old saying, "there except for the grace of God go I".

gr8rnpjt, RN · Feb 1, 2006

Lady Inpain, as a chronic pain sufferer (fibro and chronic low back pain) I feel for you. I hope that you are receiving the help you need with the pain clinic.

The only thing I would stress to you is that I have heard many people on this board say that you should never talk to the BON without legal representation. I understand the desire to have a meeting and a heart to heart but they do not necessarily have your best interest on thier priority list. :stone

TMPaul · Feb 1, 2006

ACNP,

I agree 110% with you. I have also prosecuted for abuse of my name and prescriptive privileges. Worked too long na hard not to.

Tina, APRN-BC