New to recovery need advice

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Specializes in critical care, step down.

I can't believe I'm in this situation. I'm an addict and I've diverted narcotics for three years. I haven't been caught diverting. I haven't been turned in to Peer Assistance. Nobody knows except me and my therapist. I've been sober for 11 days with the help of a great counselor but I am still working around narcotics. Cravings are horrible. I know I need to find a new job. I have a lot of questions about recovery. Has anybody successfully gone through recovery with only a good addictions counselor? Would a peer assistance program help with recovery if I reported myself? From what I've read Peer Assistance programs are a huge burden. If I can get through this successfully I would rather not have this on my record. Is that even reasonable? I'd like accountability to keep me sober. I am so grateful for all the posts here.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Reading your post really brought back memories. I couldn't believe I was an addict, nor that I diverted. Not in a million years did I ever see myself there. But I was. Kudos to you for being clean 11 days. More kudos to you for doing that on your own. I had to go a lot farther down than you did.

One thing that helped me was getting myself to as many NA meetings as I could. I also got myself into an Intensive Outpatient program and starting the treatment process. There are people there that can help with the difficult times as you get clean.

Does your state's Nurse Practice Act require that you self report?

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Quit, right now- I was in the same position- took a 2 week vacation and no drugs... fine to go (I thought)...

If I could do it all over again- I would have quit my job- Gotten involved in recovery activities- be it through a counselor, or through AA/NA. I found outpatient treatment and follow up with a counselor to be the combo that worked for me.

Get a job where you are not anywhere near drugs- you have to remove yourself from the situation, or you will eventually have no choice.

The way the peer assistance works its like a parent stepping in- you will be on restriction, you will be tested, you will have to explain yourself. It likely saved my life, and I am grateful for it. But I wish I had been able to quit my job on my own....

Be happy to go over the next steps, realize that you are just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the disbelief of where you are, narcotics hijack the brain, even though you are able to perform at a high level your brain is impaired- it will try to trick you into staying around the drugs....

Trust me, take out a 401k loan, quit your job.... its better that you have some say as to the timing. Good job on the 11 days!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Remove yourself to a job without danger (narcotics) and work your program. Do not tell anyone if you are able to do that. If you can't then turn yourself in so you have to get well.

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I would say quit and find a job with no access and work on recovery. Probation is very expensive and you don't want your license flagged. It's very hard to get a job.

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Specializes in ICU.

Sober up while you can because eventually the ball won't be in your court, I promise you getting caught is no fun at all. If you don't quit diverting, you WILL eventually get caught.

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