Drug-seeking in prison? Rx narcotics?

[maddison1002]

I have had it with the inmates submitting medical slips requesting/demanding that they receive narcotic pain medications for their back pain. It's always back pain. And these are inmates with histories of substance abuse.

Does your facility prescribe/administer narcotics, such as hydrocodone?

I'm getting a bad attitude toward inmates that are seeking these medications. I don't think they should be prescribed unless it is end stage cancer or fresh surgical pain or serious injury.

[catebsn25]

I understand your frustration, but it's useless to let yourself get upset over something like this. Just follow the orders given and pass along relevant info to the MD and let him/her decide who needs to be prescribed a narcotic and who doesn't.

[valzRN, ASN, RN]

I don't let them upset me... I just tell them straight up... we don't give out pain medications unless your dying. If you want some Ibuprofen, I can do that, but other than that, it's a lost cause and just give it up. If they keep on, I tell them, "I'm sorry your stay at our 5 star facility is not to your standards and I apoligize for not having your pillows fluffed and a mint on the bed, but next time we will be sure to cater to your every need." Then I just smile and walk away. I guess I have just been in this setting for too long because I really don't care about their back pain. They should have thought about the loss of their comfy bed and narcotics when they were out creating their own destiny. Know what I mean?

[NottaSpringChik, BSN, RN]

Oh my, it is amazing having to have this conversation over and over. Why you can't have your oxy and benzo? Well, you're in jail and we don't allow that medication here. Yes, really. No marijuana or beer allowed either. I know, it is harsh. Don't come here.

I got a call from a woman irate about her boyfriend not getting all of his pain medications and how wrong that was. He is serving time with us for almost killing her in a drug-ETOH fugue. You can't make this stuff up.

[mikethemurse, BSN, RN]

Nature of the beast. Water is wet, sky is blue, inmates manipulate and users use. Yes it can become frustrating, I work in a busy inner city jail with 1700 inmates at times all of them for the most part with a substance abuse history and we never give narcs unless it is a severe case and even the the strongest thing we give is T3. I wish I had a dollar for every drug seeker I see! But this is where we work. We just have to be mindful as to not miss the real stuff.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I don't work in jail/prison. I work in long term mental health. We have drug seekers, too. I pass their concerns to the MD to be evaluated.

He orders X-rays. Then, they usually have no visible damage.

I receive orders for Tylenol. If they're lucky, Motrin.

If damage is actually visualized on the x ray, I've seen ultram/tramadol. This has happened 1x.

Maybe 2 cases ever, I've seen gabapentin/neurontin ordered.

Sorry for ya! No pain pills! No heavy duty narcs during your stay here.

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

I just tell them flat out that we do not give narcotics. I also tell them that people with chronic pain will NEVER have a pain level of zero. That is an unrealistic goal and taking more and more narcotics, will only exacerbate the problem. Then I ask them, knowing your pain level will never be zero, how much pain can you live with and still function? If you are up, walking, talking, playing basketball and working, then you are living with your pain. I find that the people who really do have chronic pain conditions are more willing to try alternative methods. The bull*******s will just continue to ask for narcotics.

[DawnJ]

Alternative methods.....I had a guy this week tell me that massage and sauna help his back pain. Yeah, if the jail offered massage and sauna, we'd have to call it the Metro Spa, not the Metro Jail.

He did see the humor and wondered if he could get Big Bubba to give him a massage for a couple soups.

[ocean.baby]

If they are complaining of a lot of pain, especially back pain, it may be a good idea for them to stop basketball, weights, etc. because we certainly don't want them to exacerbate this problem! Usually then they decide it isn't that bad!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I don't let them upset me... I just tell them straight up... we don't give out pain medications unless your dying. If you want some Ibuprofen, I can do that, but other than that, it's a lost cause and just give it up. If they keep on, I tell them, "I'm sorry your stay at our 5 star facility is not to your standards and I apoligize for not having your pillows fluffed and a mint on the bed, but next time we will be sure to cater to your every need." Then I just smile and walk away. I guess I have just been in this setting for too long because I really don't care about their back pain. They should have thought about the loss of their comfy bed and narcotics when they were out creating their own destiny. Know what I mean?

That sarcasm might get you shanked one of these days! Be careful. You might be making enemies unnecessarily.

There are some innocent people in there, you know? If you don't feel genuine compassion, if you're burned out, just fake it. It could be you or your loved one locked up falsely - or even rightly.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I just tell them flat out that we do not give narcotics. I also tell them that people with chronic pain will NEVER have a pain level of zero. That is an unrealistic goal and taking more and more narcotics, will only exacerbate the problem. Then I ask them, knowing your pain level will never be zero, how much pain can you live with and still function? If you are up, walking, talking, playing basketball and working, then you are living with your pain. I find that the people who really do have chronic pain conditions are more willing to try alternative methods. The bull*******s will just continue to ask for narcotics.

I have chronic pain. Mercifully, it does sometimes disappear (reach zero) for a spell.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I don't work in jail/prison. I work in long term mental health. We have drug seekers, too. I pass their concerns to the MD to be evaluated.

He orders X-rays. Then, they usually have no visible damage.

I receive orders for Tylenol. If they're lucky, Motrin.

If damage is actually visualized on the x ray, I've seen ultram/tramadol. This has happened 1x.

Maybe 2 cases ever, I've seen gabapentin/neurontin ordered.

Sorry for ya! No pain pills! No heavy duty narcs during your stay here.

The DEA has docs terrified to order pain Rx, even when justified. Neuropathy isn't visible on film. Darvon is gone, there's nothing between Tylenol and codeine (some are allergic to ultram, some can't tolerate NSAID's).

I hope you never have to deal with invisible, but real, pain in your own body.