Naroctics diversion...Am I going to prison? Help

[whodatme]

Hi everyone. I wish I was on the other side of this situation. However, I got caught diverting drugs from work. I am currently waiting on everything to unfold and guide me through this. I am terrified that I am going to receive prison time for what I have done. I have talked with someone who works with TPAPN(Texas diversion), and he told me that would not happen. Of course, I can't sleep, think, eat. I was honest at work about the situation. And I looked up the flowchart of what is required from a workplace(i.e. pharmacist investigates, notifies DEA, etc,.) I have checked myself into substance abuse center, and I am currently going to AA/NA meetings. I received a letter from TPAPN saying I have been referred. I know my work is different than the board, than TPAPN, and the DEA. My big question...Does going to a peer diversion program keep you from being criminally charged by your work or the DEA/state? I would love to keep my license through all this, but in reality, I know I messed up BIG TIME, but I have a family. I really am learning early on through this how big of a mistake I made, I just hope TPAPN can prevent me from having to go to prison? I imagine each med could be a felony, so 800+meds sounds like an unforgivable offense/50-100years in prison!? I am just praying that God will meet me wherever I am at, and that my fears/anxieties be comforted. Thank you for any advice/comments.

[Postpartum RN]

Now maybe I am naive but I have to ask, 800 pills? That's how many meds you diverted?....

[Firemedicmommy, EMT-P]

Wow, really? I'm not advocating what she did, but she came asking for help and admitting she messed up. I don't see any reason to rub that in her face or make her feel worse. I understand that actions have consequences, and she should certainly be held accountable, but drug addiction is a disease, not a character defect. OP, best of luck, I hope you get the help you need, and that this works out in your favor.

[Postpartum RN]

I completely understand drug addiction is a disease and a terrible one, believe me I am not judging as I have personal family experience with it.

I guess what my shock is that 800 pills is not 5 or 10 or even 20. I have no idea how it could have gone on that long without someone noticing sooner...

OP I wish you well and to stay strong

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I'm curious I assume most people diverting get addicted to narcotics for pain control. So what do you do to control the pain after as I imagine they don't let you take narcotics anymore or do they put you on something like suboxone?

[ixchel]

Please don't worry! Yoou will not go to prison. I am a Texas nurse and the same thing happened to me!! If there is anyway you can fight the charges ( even if you are guilty) I would advise you to do so!! Please enter a not guilty plea...let your attorney do the rest. You will be fine!!! I pleaded guilty and I got my nursing license back....no jail time....a lot of hoops but that's ok. I just wish I hadn't pleaded guilty......

Yeah, go ahead and add perjury to the list! Sounds fun!

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

Someone who managed to divert 800 pills probably isn't taking them from patients writhing in pain. The folks who do that get caught much faster because patients complain. It's not a zero-sum game when you factor in stuff like wastes.

[odaat]

I'm curious I assume most people diverting get addicted to narcotics for pain control. So what do you do to control the pain after as I imagine they don't let you take narcotics anymore or do they put you on something like suboxone?

I use all the non-pharmaceutical options available-heat/ice, massage, yoga, chiropractic, etc etc and take enough NSAIDS sometimes to kill a horse [emoji53] I sometimes use steroids or a mild muscle relaxer. A lot of time I just suck it up and bear it as best I can. One bright side is that opiates cause hyperalgesia so getting clean can actually reduce the chronic pain one is in.

As for that other post, may you or your loved ones never know the pain and destruction this DISEASE causes. There's so much more I could say but that ignorance, especially from a healthcare provider, doesn't deserve much response. I will say though that if you think us addicts do not THOROUGHLY pay for the consequences of our actions you should come walk a mile in my shoes someday. I promise it will not be a nice walk in the park.

[CryssyD]

Addiction is a disease that hijacks your higher brain functions and causes you do things you normally wouldn't; to some people that sounds weak, but it really does happen that way. Your body's need for the drugs blocks out everything else. It isn't that people don't realize they're doing wrong, or even that they don't wish to God that they could stop, but it just isn't that easy. It's not a matter of willpower--after all these years, after all the neuroscience, after all the evidence from addiction medicine and treatment and research--some people still can't seem to get that through their heads.

Like oodat said, if only you could walk a mile in an addict's shoes, even a recovering addict's shoes...but I wouldn't honestly wish that on you or anyone else: it's hell on earth, and we should be supporting OP in her early recovery, not trying to make her feel worse--I guarantee she feels guilty enough already.

[Big Blondie, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

The BNE looks at 1 pill or 10000 pills the same. They don't charge you for each one. So don't worry about that. For those that don't know about the disease of addiction, there are tons of resources you can educate yourself with. This is a page for recovery and support. And by the way, people don't take 800 pills at one time, this happens over time. smh

[hawaiicarl, BSN, RN]

In my personal opinion, any health professional who diverts over 800 meds from patients should be jailed, and have their license stripped. It would be like an alcoholic working as a bartender, exposing them to their addiction of choice is playing with fire.

Cheers

PS - Does everyone agree that a drunk driver should have their license taking away? I view this as the same deal.

[odaat]

In my personal opinion, any health professional who diverts over 800 meds from patients should be jailed, and have their license stripped. It would be like an alcoholic working as a bartender, exposing them to their addiction of choice is playing with fire.

Cheers

PS - Does everyone agree that a drunk driver should have their license taking away? I view this as the same deal.

Are you able to wrap your mind around the fact that it's possible to divert without taking meds from your patient or leaving them to suffer? I'm not saying that doesn't happen but realize that not everyone who diverts does that to their patients.

Second, I get what your saying, I really do. Nobody thinks that I deserve all the punishment in the world and stripping of my license more than I have thought it. You can't even conceive of what addiction does to a person. It takes over until you no longer recognize the person you've become, until it kills every good thing inside you that makes you human. I would have, and almost did, sacrifice every single thing I love in order to get the next fix because when you're in it that deep, that becomes the only thing that matters. Do you think a person enjoys living like that? Do you think a person would choose that?? Yes I chose the first drug, for reasons I won't go into, but I did not choose to be an addict.

I can guarantee you that the person who diverted was not the person I am. Addiction truly is insanity and no one in their right mind would do the things an addict does. You think you're disgusted by their actions? Imagine how the addict who gets clean feels when they, finally in their right mind, get to live with every terrible thing they did while they were in the grips of addiction and not in their right mind. And imagine doing everything you possibly can to change and never go back to that while living in a world that will never let you forget the worthless junkie you used to be.

Do you think the BON just gave me a lil slap on the wrist and sent me on my lil way license all nice and intact? It doesn't work that way. I and my professional practice are heavily monitored and unlike your alcoholic bartender scenario, I am not allowed any access to narcotics. In fact the work I do now doesn't have any narcotics on the premises. Believe me, I have my license but I also have the scarlet A branded on me. You have no idea of the fight and strength it takes a recovering addict to keep their license. But whether you and others like you believe it or not, I do still have a lot of worth to offer my patients and I'm grateful I get that chance.

[hawaiicarl, BSN, RN]

Dear odaat

I am glad you are doing better, and wish you well in your recovery. I am fully aware of what an addict is capable of, as an example my son's classmate was a meth addict. When his mother refused to give him money for meth he poured kerosene on her, and lit her on fire. When her sister tried to put out the fire he torched his aunty too, in the process he burned down the family house. Although this is an extreme example, this is not a person I would want taking care of my family, or endangering my license by asking for cosigns. If someone would light their mother on fire with this "disease", do you think they would balk at taking half the dose they pulled from the omnicell for their patient?

Cheers