Afraid to Seek Treatment

[TravelNurse1812]

I'll try to keep a long story short. I'm asking this for a friend.

They have been a nurse for coming up on 3 years now. They have been using a certain substance that may be federally legalized in the relatively near future. They've been using this substance to a point that could perhaps be construed as abusive since senior year of high school (thats 9 years now). It's never caused any problems in this person's interpersonal relationships. Everyone in their life who knows about their use, either uses themselves or are of the modern mindset that use of this substance is not harmful in the way that other substances are. A sentiment that this person agrees with. This person simply believes that they may have an unhealthy relationship with said substance.

This person has also suffered with a lot of depression and anxiety throughout their life, and is afraid that some other psychological illness such as BPD or Bipolar may be in effect at some level (or something else entirely, they don't want to self diagnose). They fear that this substance maybe has been being used as a self remedy and that pshological/psychiatric intervention may be of great use.

 

This person is a nurse, however. They are afraid to seek help for fear of some board of nursing prying into their psychiatric treatment history. This person has never used at work, or shown up to work after recent use, or ever been suspected of or accused of such. This person does not use or abuse any other substances besides a few beers a couple times a week. And definitely an abuser of the substance of food if you count that. 

 

 

Should this person seek treatment? Should they simply not divulge to their treatment professionals what their job is? Should they not divulge the substance abuse angle? Should they be totally honest with their treatment professionals? Do BON generally go snooping for psychiatric/drug treatment if it's entirely voluntary and/or outpatient?

 

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you. 

 

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

First I am not an addiction specialist so I wouldn't presume to give any advice on if your friend should seek treatment and/or counseling much less disclose it to their employer and/or their state BON.

This substance is not yet legal at the federal level but an important piece of the puzzle you left out is if this friend lives in a state where it has been legalized?  That may or may not make a huge difference depending on how that states BON is responding to nurses that use this  substance.  

Also of note...Does that state have questions on it's licensing and/or  license renewal application that ask if the nurse has been under any psychiatric care or participated in any drug/alcohol treatment? If so the options are more limited without flat our lying by omission if you friend doesn't disclose any treatment/counseling received when it time to renew that nursing license.  Lying to the BON is never a good idea. 

However you friend proceeds, it wouldn't be a bad idea at all to at least have an initial consultation with an attorney familiar with licensing issues in that state.