How to handle co-workers who have had addiction issues?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

i usually consider myself fairly sensitive, but i did a stupid thing today and need some suggestions. the situation - i work with someone who i have worked with in the past. i knew he had an addiction issue in the past but has no issues now (it was about 10 years ago). so, i found out via the newspaper that one of our other past co-workers died of a drug overdose at his place of employment. i casually mentioned it to my current co-worker and said that it was such a sad event.

at any rate, what i want to know is how do you handle clumsy people like me that bring up the past even unintentionally?

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Specializes in Medical.

I haven't been in a similar situation, on either side, so I'm not sure how I'd handle it. Did your colleague take umbrage or seem upset?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think I embarrassed him. I sincerely like this co-worker and we have a great working relationship so I didn't want to hurt him.

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Specializes in Medical.

Maybe you could say that to him :)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yeah - I think I just need to apologize if I offended him.

Thanks.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Does your co worker know you know he is in recovery? Is he open about it? or is it something that is never mentioned.

I certainly would not take any offense or be uncomfortable about this at all, other than to say I was sad about the guy who OD'd and what a tragedy it was.

The fact that your co worker had a former addiction/and another nurse OD'd are really not related.

In as much as addiction is a disease that your friend is recovering from...(can't say cured/but you get the message-he is not active anymore)....and the other fellow died....it would be like your friend having had cancer and being in remission and this other guy died from it.

So, unless your friend is unusually sensitive, I don't think it's an issue.

Besides..being in recovery and beating addiction is something to be PROUD about...not ashamed.

I don't go around telling my story to everyone I see, but if I am directly asked about it, (in confidence) I tell the truth...the whole shebang...and have helped lots of other people.

So, it may not have been a problem for them....it sounds like it is more of a problem for you :)

What I mean by that, it's really ok to talk about!

diva;)

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

What diva rn said! :yeah:

Catmom :paw:

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I also agree with what diva rn said. Any way you look at it, or any tied in circumstances being considered, it is still sad that your common friend/acquaintance died. And it would only be natural to want to talk about it with someone else who knew the person. You want to hear something embarassing? When I was in 7th or 8th grade, the mother of one of my classmates passed away. Stupid here, made a comment one day, off the wall, involving the parent who was no longer with us. Now, for pete's sake, to this day, I can remember how horrible it was to try to get both feet out of my mouth. Now that was making a stupid, insensitive remark! And I don't even remember the actual remark, but I remember the effect.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

The rest of the story is that this co-worker and I worked together at a previous job - we were both staff nurses. I do know about his addiction issue because of our previous working relationship.

He is quite open with those of us that know him from his past job.

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