Help! Advice needed HPRP Michigan

NurseJackie69 · Mar 23

MichelleTinsel said:

Good to know! Thanks for all the info! My diagnosis is "recovering alcoholic" based on eval. I drank a few times a week in the past. None for the past two. Mostly based on my owi I'm sure. Haven't seen the addictionologist yet so wonder what he'll say.

Hopefully you get only 3 years. Michigan is one of the last-few remaining states (only about 5 left) that still sometimes gives 3 years, especially if the addictionologist doesn't give you a "severe" diagnosis. I just had an NP come to me a week ago that got into trouble for Valium/Anxiety/Benzo's and they gave her 4 years. I had a CRNA I spoke to in a recovery meeting a couple of months ago that was diverting and Michigan gave him 5. Even Michigan is slowly but surely, is increasing from 3 to either 4 or 5 years, but it's not there yet. Even some people who diverted narcotics use to commonly get 3 years max in Michigan. That has dramatically changed in the last 12 months for diversion of narcotics in Michigan and 3 years for narcotic diversion is a thing of the past, it's been pushed to 4 and 5 years over the past 12 months for nearly every diverter. But, Michigan is still a state where many people for alcoholism are only getting 3 years and that's a plus in my opinion. I would have loved to have 3 years instead of 5.

I still would have rather received 3 years and tested 4 or 5 times per month for the first year then 3 or 4 times per month for the 2nd year, then 3 times per month for year 3 COMPARED TO doing 5 years and testing less. 36 months is quick. Compared to 5 years, I can assure you, it goes by pretty quick.

Nurselee22 · Mar 24

MichelleTinsel said:

I signed a 3 year contact, did 2 evals. My first evaluator is also serving as my therapist and she's confused why they gave me all of this and said she'll try to get it shortened.

Who gave you the contract? You said you did 2 evals? Both from HPRP? I did one and I'm still waiting what will they decide. I'm scared if they ask me to do another one. I thought the addictionologist gives the diagnosis ...

its bs you're even getting a contract but I guess it's better than 5 years. Ugh

MichelleTinsel · Mar 28

Yeah, my 2 evals were done by HPRP approved evaluators. Basically because of my owi, I got 3 years no matter what. My therapist who did the first eval wants to get some of this shortened. Mostly I'm just irritated by attending 3 mutual help meetings a week. Just a pain in the ***. All the other therapy is fine, whatever. However, It's so incredibly expensive that I don't know if I can afford this for very long.

Athenaray · Mar 29

Best approach to recovwry/SUD/alcoholism is Multi pronged consisting of PHP and or IOP and Aftercare which makes up what is called "rehab." Additionally, therapy and additionally self help meetings. All of the above are proven to help and just doing 1 of the above is better than nothing, but here is the catch most don't know about....

If you could only do 1 of the above and couldn't do any of the others, it's meetings (AA, NA, CR) are likely More Important than therapy itself. Relapse rates are directly correlated with meeting attendance and more correlated with meeting attendance than they are therapy.

Healer555 · Mar 29

MichelleTinsel said:

Yeah, my 2 evals were done by HPRP approved evaluators. Basically because of my owi, I got 3 years no matter what. My therapist who did the first eval wants to get some of this shortened. Mostly I'm just irritated by attending 3 mutual help meetings a week. Just a pain in the ***. All the other therapy is fine, whatever. However, It's so incredibly expensive that I don't know if I can afford this for very long.

It is expensive. If I were you I'd fo the math before you spend the time and money. You'll have the same number of tests each month as long as they are all negative. One test less each year. The mutual help meetings are easy. Do zoom meetings while you cook clean drive etc..

NurseJackie69 · Mar 29

The therapy doesn't have great wonders in recovery. Therapists want you to return and talk to them and you could say you are a serial killer, Santa Clause, or Frosty the Snow man and they just nod. I think therapy is as about as useful as boobs on a Boar-Hog, EXCEPT in cases of Trauma. Therapy matters greatly there. In the Recovery/12 step type meetings, the healing occurs, the drive, the desire to not use or drink starts to occur when the person shares with 10 or 14 other people listening and then, you get to also listen to the other 10 or 14 people. That's where the magic occurs when people apply themselves. As for therapy, every addict in America is "open to it." They know it's safe and easy. They know it's no where close to as difficult when sharing with a "nodding" therapist compared to sharing with 10 or 11 people, but when the addict or alcoholic overcomes that fear and shame, and they can express themselves without the fear and shame in front of 11 others, that starts to point towards a RADICAL internal shift, a change, a path to healing and not relapsing. As for talking to the nutjob therapist who are usually crazier than we are (addicts or alcoholics) there is SOME healing, but it's only scratching the surface compared to 12 step meetings and peer group/peer support meetings. This is WHY so many states force nurses to do Peer Group/Support meetings and many of these meetings have a counselor running them that has to send a report to your monitoring case manager (some states) and that forces the nurse to SHARE, and they do this because once again.....that's where incredible growth in recovery comes.

For anyone addicted or an alcoholic, when you can get to the point where you can share about your addiction to a random group of 5 strangers that you just met 10 minutes ago and you feel little to no shame, you have licked 90% of recovery. It's that powerful. When someone can ask you what hand you use to wipe your butt and you tell them which hand and how many pieces of toilet paper you use, that's 90% of it. I'm talking about openness, letting shame go, and not keeping secrets or being "worried about what Nursey Jones on Floor 3West" will "think of you" if she finds out about your past, so you play the ole game of secrets. That will BURY you in recovery. Relapse rates with that mentality is approaching incredible numbers/high likelihood at some point. Again, this is why Sharing with multiple human beings in one setting for ANY condition, SUD, Alcoholism, Trauma, Abuse, Anxiety, Abandonment, Divorce, Loss, Guilt, is overwhelming powerful and freeing. Is it a "cure"? Nope, it's not a cure, but it pays great dividends compared to simply "one on one" therapy. One on one therapy ONLY.....and little to no other type of recovery such as meetings is peeing in the wind. A total waste of time.

MichelleTinsel · Apr 1

JB C said:

Best approach to recovwry/SUD/alcoholism is Multi pronged consisting of PHP and or IOP and Aftercare which makes up what is called "rehab." Additionally, therapy and additionally self help meetings. All of the above are proven to help and just doing 1 of the above is better than nothing, but here is the catch most don't know about....

If you could only do 1 of the above and couldn't do any of the others, it's meetings (AA, NA, CR) are likely More Important than therapy itself. Relapse rates are directly correlated with meeting attendance and more correlated with meeting attendance than they are therapy.

I have never been an alcoholic, just made a horrible mistake one night. The arrest just scared me completely sober. I did IOP to look good for the court. I haven't "relapsed", I just stopped drinking socially altogether, was not a daily drinker. They are just running a scam. I've never had any other issues, not legally and not professionally.

Athenaray · Apr 1

MichelleTinsel said:

I have never been an alcoholic, just made a horrible mistake one night. The arrest just scared me completely sober. I did IOP to look good for the court. I haven't "relapsed", I just stopped drinking socially altogether, was not a daily drinker. They are just running a scam. I've never had any other issues, not legally and not professionally.

It's definitely a scam. Time and time again I see people on consent orders and in monitoring that don't have SUDs. BONs are corrupt. Not everyone on the BONs are corrupt. Most are good people, but there are a few bad apples and that's all it takes to corrupt the entire BON. It's sad how much unchecked power these people have.

CDW · Jun 5

I'm about to call HPRP to set up an evaluation mine involved THC in my system not alcohol do you have any advice and what's your current situation looking like? Thanks

Healer555 · Jun 5

CDW said:

I'm about to call HPRP to set up an evaluation mine involved THC in my system not alcohol do you have any advice and what's your current situation looking like? Thanks

Do you know that you're definitely going to be reported?

I'd contact a lawyer to get the names of one of the more fair evaluators

Most likely you're getting a 3 year monitoring agreement.

CDW · Jun 5

Healer555 said:

Do you know that you're definitely going to be reported?

I'd contact a lawyer to get the names of one of the more fair evaluators

Most likely you're getting a 3 year monitoring agreement.

Yes I met with the board and they told me today I need to get the evaluation done. I haven't drank or used any THC since the incident and have no desire to ever again

Nurselee22 · Jun 6

CDW said:

I'm about to call HPRP to set up an evaluation mine involved THC in my system not alcohol do you have any advice and what's your current situation looking like? Thanks

Be direct and factual when calling hprp. Let them know why you're calling without going into details. For example, when I called I said, "I'm dealing with an investigation involving LARA, and my attorney advised me to contact you.” No need to explain further, let them guide the process. it's either mental health or substance.

Here's what to expect:

You'll complete an intake ( mainly a history of your meds, be honest about your prescription history and when you last took any medications. Basically, your MAPs. You can't lie or leave anything out. The evaluator will get your MAPs report, and everything you say during the intake will be cross-referenced with that. After the evaluation, the provider will submit a written report ( mine was pages long) with their assessment and recommendation. If your story doesn't match across the board, it's a red flag, so make sure everything lines up.)
You'll be entered into their system ( check-ins daily)
you'll sign tons of ROI (too many people end up knowing more about you than you'd ever want a stranger to know.)
Weekly drug testing will begin (until the final decision if you're eligible to enter the program)
You'll choose one evaluator from a list of three they provide. (the evaluator is the one who can make or break you, they hold a lot of power in determining your path with hprp. Their report carries serious weight in the final decision)
You'll also be asked to provide three personal references for the evaluator to contact, people who can speak to your character and behavior.
After the evaluation, they'll determine whether hprp monitoring is necessary.

If you haven't already: stop all THC use immediately and be ready to explain what led to the positive result ( edible at a party, using for sleep, etc.). But again, keep the explanation factual and let the evaluator decide how to interpret it. Don't feel like you have to fill the silence with words.

They don't care if you've lost all desire to use, to them, you're just part of their daily routine. My advice? Don't stress. If I had to go through this process again, I wouldn't waste so much energy on anxiety, trying to prove I was a good person. The truth is, they don't care. For them, it's just another day, another case. feel free to message me on private. good luck.