Completed VA HPMP

Eris Discordia BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2021

Any surprises the last few months? Was it a straight forward process wrapping it all up or did you face any unexpected delays?

Jbud · Dec 24, 2021

Can you tell me if Virginia HPMP let up on the drug testing amounts per month? Out of work and these tests are killing my credit card!

RueTrue · Jan 8, 2022

Congrats! How does it feel?

catcalling · Jan 9, 2022

On 12/15/2021 at 5:55 PM, Eris Discordia BSN, RN said:

Any surprises the last few months? Was it a straight forward process wrapping it all up or did you face any unexpected delays?

No surpises at all nothing changed at all. They don't tell you anything about the process but I know they have a meeting for approval of release and no one told me I was done. I just tried to check in one day and I couldn't. So I called them and they just said you are don't . I got a letter from them 2 weeks later and a letter from the board about one month later.

On 12/23/2021 at 7:40 PM, Jbud said:

Can you tell me if Virginia HPMP let up on the drug testing amounts per month? Out of work and these tests are killing my credit card!

No, they didn't let up on testing. Same frequency the entire 5 years.

catcalling · Jan 9, 2022

On 1/8/2022 at 12:30 PM, RueTrue said:

Congrats! How does it feel?

I was exciting for about 2 weeks then you realize you have to try harder to stay clean because now you have no one to look over you. You really need to keep the mentality of staying sober/clean. The freedom is definetly nice, but again you have to keep your head screwed on correctly given the new freedom.

Jbud · Jan 9, 2022

I’ve talked to people in my Caduseus group that have finished HPMP. They stated that they voluntarily kept in HPMP to keep getting monitored! I guess I understand now!

RueTrue · Jan 9, 2022

Ahh, yes. This sounds like something I heard from someone while I was in treatment. I am hoping that I have a pretty solid recovery foundation and fellowship by the time my 5 years is up.

Jbud · Jan 9, 2022

I totally feel the same way! I’m not working and these drug tests are adding up!

catcalling · Jan 18, 2022

On 1/8/2022 at 12:30 PM, RueTrue said:

Congrats! How does it feel?

really awesome for a couple weeks then you realize what normal is pretty quick

VA nurseMH · Apr 24, 2022

Were you forced to take naltrexone? How can they force it, I don’t see it written anywhere in the hand book. Help?!

RueTrue · Apr 24, 2022

I know this is for the OP, but figured I’d chime in too. From what I know from others in the program, as well as personal experience, they will try hard to find a way to make you take it. You may want a certain job, and they will tell you you cant have it without taking it. You may even get away with not taking it for a period of time, after your psych Dr says they are comfortable with you coming off of it. Then you might want to travel, and they can tell you no, unless you are on naltrexone, again, even though you were on it for a period of time and have been successful off of it for a longer period of time. The only way I know to not have to take it is if you have a medical reason and it is approved by someone on their list of Doctors. It does say in the handbook that they recommend it before returning to work, and while they can’t force you to take it, they can easily not allow you to work because you are not taking it. Every case can be a little different though, these are just my and some people that I knows experiences. Good luck.