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There's a forum for nurses who have run into trouble with addictions:
https://allnurses.com/nurses-and-recovery/
Lots of good information and support there.
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I live in IL and am an RN in recovery. IL has a program, the Illinois Professionals Health Program, that will help your son. He should call them ASAP, and have an evaluation. They will then work with him, and help him do what he can to save his license. They are not the BON, but an advocate for health professionals, they manage treatement refererrals, referrals to aftercare professional groups, as well as random urine tests.Being fired means his employer may be reporting him to the board of nursing, so be prepared for that.
The best thing I ever did for myself was to ask for help, I have now been in recovery for a little over 2 years, and in 2 more years I will finish my monitoring agreement and have an unrestricted license.
IL BON will work with him, but it will be easier if he seeks treatment on his own, rather than being forced into it.
Prescription drug addiction is a horrible disease, but there is hope. I am proof of that.
Take care
670 Posts
You can also contact the American Association of Nurse Attorneys for names of license defense attorneys in Illinois (www.taana.org). I strongly recommend obtaining at least a consultation with an experienced license defense attorney to be sure your son's rights are protected. He has the right to remain silent, and anything he says to an investigator (police or licensing board) can be used against him. Most boards of nursing do not tell a nurse facing an investigation they are allowed to retain legal counsel. It's difficult to determine if he will face criminal charges at this early date. Obtaining an attorney does NOT in any way prove anything...it does assure your son will have the best shot at a good outcome. Many of the recovering nurses on this bulletin board will tell you they wish they had obtained legal counsel.
I also think the recommendation to contact the alternative program in Illinois is an excellent recommendation. If your son is indeed chemically dependent, he's going to need treatment, preferably in a facility with experience in treating health care professionals. The most prominent sign/symptom of the disease of chemical dependence is denial. As I heard one addictionologist say, "This is the only disease in which the person is convinced they don't have it, a majority have to be "caught" before they are diagnosed, and many, many are punished before receiving treatment."
Chemical dependence is a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease affecting the brain. The combination of a genetic predisposition, significant stress in their life, and exposure to mood altering chemicals triggers the disease.
I tell every person I meet with this lousy disease...you are not a bad person trying to become good. You have a disease and you want to become healthy.
Keep us posted on how things are going. There is a great deal of experience, strength, and hope here.
Prayers for your son, you, and your entire family.
Jack
jammin246RN
94 Posts
Drug addiction is a risk of the job. The boards of nursing realize this. Usually what happens is he contacts the board, arranges for a drug rehab, then gets put on probation for a period of time. While on probation he may not be allowed access to narcotics. After he completes probation he will be able to practice nursing unobstructed.... however he will have a blemish on his nursing liscense.