Is using illegal drugs on the uptick?

[Extra Pickles]

Honestly asking the question as to whether there are more and more people who are putting their future livelihoods or current ones at risk by doing illegal drugs? There have always been people doing this of course but it seems that there are more and more people on this forum alone who are asking how to get out of drug testing, how to get an employer to ignore positive results and how to get back into or stay in nursing school because they were caught doing exactly what they weren't supposed to be doing to get or keep those precious positions. It isn't news that it is illegal, but it really seems to be news to many of the people discussing it that they might be caught. I don't understand that.

Anyone who does illegal drugs knows they are illegal, as they didn't go to RiteAid and pick them up in the candy aisle.

So is it that more people are willing to do it more often anyway, consequences be darned, or is it maybe that the internet is seen as someplace so anonymous or private or whatever that they are more noticeable than before? What's really up with all these new conversations asking about illegal drug use????

[Pat_Pat RN]

Certainly seems that is the case on AN! lol

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

I was wondering the same thing, what with all the recent posts on here about "Oops....I made a mistake...."

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think so, too.

1). Zone between "legal" and "illegal" is getting grayer. Marijuana is now "legal" to use in some states (yes, it is still illegal federally, but not many people actually know it). It is still illegal to "consume" benzodiazepines without script... how about benzos analogues, newer analogues, orexin antagonists, which are not detected by most commercial drug screen systems, while used for legitimate purpose and not regularly?

2). The System of health care. Just think of what it can offer for a prospective nursing student who is, for good or not, feels like a nervous wreck before school interview. The answer is "nothing" in terms of short-term help. While everything this guy might need is a good talk and one or two doses of Ambient to sleep, there is no way to get it except some benevolent personal contact. Instead, the guy will be given diagnosis of "general anxiety disorder" which will follow him all the life, and a script for Xanax, with all the sequela.

3). Societal acceptance. We all have colleagues who, maybe unknown for us, live and work while taking prescription medicines. I doubt anybody here will castigate a nurse only because she pops a Norco in the middle of the shift because her back is killing her. Same is everywhere.

4). High level of stress and lack of skills (and opportunities) to combat it in healthy and socially acceptable ways. How many of us live in place where one can safely jog at midnight and where there is 24-hours gym? I live in such place, with nothing like this about good 100 miles around.

5). Professional redundancy. Well, yes, nursing (and medicine as well) is a conservative profession which denies people many things eons after they became accepted everywhere else, hence the constant topics about tattoos, piersings, watches, etc. Of course, when human lives are at the stake, it looks better to overdo it sometimes than the opposite. Better safe than sorry, etc. But excluding a student after ONE positive drug test, and barring people who need these medication for absolute medical indications is nothing but ridiculous, IMH(umble)O. I personally know two people who were denied admission because of their legitimate medical need to take scheduled medications, and, again IMHO, it is just plainly wrong.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Addiction is a disease process that relapsing is part of the process for some. Nurse or not.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I think more people are getting used to the drug usage. Marijuana isn't seen so bad anymore.

Although I don't get it. If employers don't have to hire nicotine users, why would they hire marijuana users.

[Extra Pickles]

really excellent points Katie, thank you. I guess if people are not seeing marijuana use as a problem then they probably wouldn't realize that this is an obstacle to getting and keeping a job. But even so even in states where it is permissible to use it surely they must know that it's not legal everywhere and that there may be consequences to using it. Is there really anyone who could claim that they had no idea at all that using marijuana would be one of the things employers don't want to see on drug screens?

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

really excellent points Katie, thank you. I guess if people are not seeing marijuana use as a problem then they probably wouldn't realize that this is an obstacle to getting and keeping a job. But even so even in states where it is permissible to use it surely they must know that it's not legal everywhere and that there may be consequences to using it. Is there really anyone who could claim that they had no idea at all that using marijuana would be one of the things employers don't want to see on drug screens?

First of all, for the majority of lay people not spoiled by excessive level of education "legal to use" means just that. Marijuana is legal to use, as long as it happens within the borders of the State of Colorado and the user is above certain age. Sometimes it is assumed that "legal" means within certain additional circumstances, i.e. not while driving, but not always. It is the same strange logic as the one of some legal gun owners - if it is legal for me to carry it, then it is legal everywhere, even if it looks like right in between ridiculous and grossly inappropriate. IMHO and sorry.

Second, many people think that federal/state laws and policies always overcome ones put by an employer. It is an extremely common misconception. And, unfortunately, things just do not work this way in real life.

And third, as I told, people just do not think it is a biggie, as many other things. A cluster of SNFs my place is working closely with recently started a policy, as the put it, "de-stigmatizing of mental health problems and care for the elderly". That would be a laudable initiative, only one problem is that, as part of it, nurses there are not allowed to teach about real indications and properties of these drugs. As a result, it is quite common to see a LOL attempting to give some of her "nerve pills", "good night pills" and "good attitude pills" to families and even to other visitors. Most of them have no idea that they are dealing with controlled substances with high addictive potential, and I quite easily can envision many positive drug screens coming in the near future.

[Extra Pickles]

A cluster of SNFs my place is working closely with recently started a policy, as the put it, "de-stigmatizing of mental health problems and care for the elderly". That would be a laudable initiative, only one problem is that, as part of it, nurses there are not allowed to teach about real indications and properties of these drugs. As a result, it is quite common to see a LOL attempting to give some of her "nerve pills", "good night pills" and "good attitude pills" to families and even to other visitors. Most of them have no idea that they are dealing with controlled substances with high addictive potential, and I quite easily can envision many positive drug screens coming in the near future.

I have to assume what you mean by nurses not being allowed to teach their patients about the drugs they are taking is that family members don't want to scare Grandma into not taking them? I mean honestly, calling a pill a "good night pill" or a "good attitude pill" seems so childish, it belittles the person who is prescribed these drugs! I understand that as people age they can become more difficult when it comes to taking medicines, I have had at least my share of elderly patients who spit out pills, but this just seems wrong to me. If they are With It enough to not be spitting at people then they should be With It enough to be told what the heck they are taking and why it can't be given out like Mints to other people!

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Extra Pickles,

I could not believe it myself. Apparently, there were complains from families about "drugging" so someone came with that"genious" idea. Now families and patients there are told about "grandma's nerves" (anxiety), "poor sleep accomodation abilities" (insomnia) and "working with surroundings" (agitation). Residents are medicated as ordered (and, telling the truth, a bit more adequately than in other similar facilities) but explained in line "here is a pill for your nerves" and they can be told the pill's name but not real indication and that the pill is scheduled and can cause addiction. Most residents (and families) in these facilities have very low education level, so they are not concerned as long as grandma is calm and happy.

We were asked to "accomodate" these policies in our inpatient teaching. Heck no way.

[Zibbie]

There has apparently been an increase in drug related deaths actually. So I would say so, at least I guess drug related deaths are increasing, that does not necessarily mean drug use is technically. I of coorifice have not gone over the data myself but it is interesting. Anyone hear about that HIV outbreak in Indiana not to long ago? Have you looked at the CDCs data?

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

Hmmm...why don't we look at the hypocrisy around "legal" drugs...specifically nicotine and alcohol....never once saw a pt. for on my unit (cardiac) from marijuana...never! Oh...hmmm...let's see...daily deaths related to booze and cancer sticks....what a lovely system we have!