Nurse doing cocaine HELP

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A very close male friend has a new girlfriend. She is an ICU nurse. I have only met her twice and my friend states he is in love with her. I have a big big problem. The last time we went out she broke out a bag of coke. She admitted to me she had a drinking problem as a young teen. From what I saw she still has it. She did mix coke and alcohol that night. My friend told me she doesn't do coke on the days she works. I don't know if I believe that or not. I know where she works. I know her Director. If I tell even without using my name they will know it's me. I will loose my friend who means the world to me, but the ethical and professional in me is giving me the kick. It's been bothering me for a long time. I would like some other opinions before I make up my mind. I know what I should do and I know what will happen if I do it. HELP.

Lori

Specializes in Intermediate Care.

To those of you that are coming down harshly on me about ethics... In this case I do agree that it's not a question of ethics because she had a "big" bag of coke, indicating that it's not casual use, but abuse. My apologies, I really should have posted the question in another thread and used it in a general sense instead of tied it specifically to the instance of Lori's friend.

Anyway, the reason I asked is because I know of many illegal drug users (not abusers) that are completely functional in society and actually VERY successful. If we were to report these people at work for the illegal things they chose to do on their own time, it would eliminate the contributions some of the best, brightest, and hardest working members of our society.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand!

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Who was/is Len Bias?

A basketball player in the 1980s who, if I've got my stories right, took cocaine that was apparently nearly pure without knowing it and died in his 20s of a heart attack. I think it was either only his first time trying coke, or he hadn't been addicted very long.

I haven't rechecked this on the web - this is just off the top of my head - so please correct me if I've screwed it up.

GOD, do I feel old now? :crying2: :wink2:

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To those of you that are coming down harshly on me about ethics... In this case I do agree that it's not a question of ethics because she had a "big" bag of coke, indicating that it's not casual use, but abuse. My apologies, I really should have posted the question in another thread and used it in a general sense instead of tied it specifically to the instance of Lori's friend.

Anyway, the reason I asked is because I know of many illegal drug users (not abusers) that are completely functional in society and actually VERY successful. If we were to report these people at work for the illegal things they chose to do on their own time, it would eliminate the contributions some of the best, brightest, and hardest working members of our society.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand!

How bright can you be to snort coke? If you get something uncut, or cut with, let's say, rat poison - you're dead. One sniff and you're outta here.

I ask again - how bright is that?

Drugs are a touchy issue with me - sometimes I lean towards legalization because if you did that, not only would the thrill of belonging to some counterculture be gone but the MONEY that's in it now would disappear, ending a WHOLE lot of crime IMO - but they could legalize it tomorrow and I wouldn't DARE touch cocaine. Too darned dangerous.

I'd rather be in control of myself, thank you - I don't want to surrender to some white powder or a needle. And I like non-bruised arms and I think my nose is pretty cute!

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To those of you that are coming down harshly on me about ethics... In this case I do agree that it's not a question of ethics because she had a "big" bag of coke, indicating that it's not casual use, but abuse. My apologies, I really should have posted the question in another thread and used it in a general sense instead of tied it specifically to the instance of Lori's friend.

Anyway, the reason I asked is because I know of many illegal drug users (not abusers) that are completely functional in society and actually VERY successful. If we were to report these people at work for the illegal things they chose to do on their own time, it would eliminate the contributions some of the best, brightest, and hardest working members of our society.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand!

You are rationalizing something that is wrong to make it sound okay. Drugs are illegal; Drugs such as coke and heroin are imported by vicious drug cartels who have no regard for human life. DEA agents are killed by even pot growers in Calif; Police officers die fighting drug dealers/gangs; In the midwest lives are being ruined by the meth-lab business. The money that your "Bright" friends give to drug dealers helps to support the dealers who go on to sell to people who aren't as "lucky" as your friends-lives are ruined by the minute through drugs. And you are fooling yourself if you don't realize that at some point, what your "best and brightest" are doing won't catch up with them-hard drugs are extremely addicting, and since you don't see your friends 24-7 you don't really have any idea how they handle it other than what they "show" you and tell you. Maybe you should watch "Maria, Full of Grace" or go hang out at a homeless shelter and then come back and tell me how "harmless" a drug habit is; because that's what these people have-a drug habit.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Maria Full of Grace is an excellant movie. It really shows how terrible this whole business is with the drug mules and how dealers don't give a darn about human life. :(

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To those of you that are coming down harshly on me about ethics... In this case I do agree that it's not a question of ethics because she had a "big" bag of coke, indicating that it's not casual use, but abuse. My apologies, I really should have posted the question in another thread and used it in a general sense instead of tied it specifically to the instance of Lori's friend.

Anyway, the reason I asked is because I know of many illegal drug users (not abusers) that are completely functional in society and actually VERY successful. If we were to report these people at work for the illegal things they chose to do on their own time, it would eliminate the contributions some of the best, brightest, and hardest working members of our society.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand!

It appears to be a justification for continued drug use by excusing their illegal behavior, stating they contribute productively. Just how long will they be able to contribute productively? When will they cease to contribute and begin taking from society? When will they endanger those around them? Those they love? One of the major signs of a drug problem is attempting to justify one's drug use by citing how it helps one to contribute productively. I am not a drug expert but I do realize, drugs never contribute to one's productivity.

Grannynurse :balloons:

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Specializes in Case Management.

People on coke have no self control. So besides the patient risk factor, if you were to work with her you would have to watch your belongings carefully because it is a really expensive habit, people coming off of it are impulsive, they are constantly trying to figure out how to pay for it, they are usually very paranoid, and as you are aware, can become very violent. I am in agreement with those who say an anonomous tip is in order. There are numerous ways to provide this information and it does not have to go to the person you know. Another supervisor or director could be called. Someone in human resources could be alerted anonymously. Remember you are mandated to report situations that endanger your patients, and it is morally and ethically the thing to do. Cocaine is a hard habit to free oneself from. A nurse impaired on cocaine is a risk to everyone, patients, coworkers and loved ones. Best wishes to you, in your heart you know the right thing to do, and there are more ways to skin a cat, so find one that works for you and just do it.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I haven't read all of these, but I too suggest that you do the right thing. By whatever means necessary write a note to the director, an anonymous call to security from a pay phone, call the police, call/write etc human resources, but do it. If you won't and no one else steps up then you WILL be the one it all depends on.

A co-worker several years back we all considered only giggly and flakey...just hapened to be annoyed with her baby crying one December, so she just put the baby outside and went back to her Coke.

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Specializes in Intermediate Care.
You are rationalizing something that is wrong to make it sound okay. Drugs are illegal; Drugs such as coke and heroin are imported by vicious drug cartels who have no regard for human life. DEA agents are killed by even pot growers in Calif; Police officers die fighting drug dealers/gangs; In the midwest lives are being ruined by the meth-lab business. The money that your "Bright" friends give to drug dealers helps to support the dealers who go on to sell to people who aren't as "lucky" as your friends-lives are ruined by the minute through drugs. And you are fooling yourself if you don't realize that at some point, what your "best and brightest" are doing won't catch up with them-hard drugs are extremely addicting, and since you don't see your friends 24-7 you don't really have any idea how they handle it other than what they "show" you and tell you. Maybe you should watch "Maria, Full of Grace" or go hang out at a homeless shelter and then come back and tell me how "harmless" a drug habit is; because that's what these people have-a drug habit.

A few things:

- Don't put words in my mouth; I'm not rationalizing anything. I'm simply telling you a fact -- that some of the best & brightest in this country use drugs, and some of them happen to be very successful.

- You're assuming that I'm talking about hard drugs, and illegal drugs -- this is probably because I posed my original question in a thread about a cocaine addict. As I said before, my fault on that one.

- Yes, I don't see my friends 24-7 but I do see them more than you do, so how can you reasonably profess to know more than I do about their usage? :uhoh21:

- Maria Full of Grace shows a very barbaric and extreme example of drug muling. It is shocking & often used as anti-drug propaganda to counter the movies that glorify & romanticize drugs, rightly so! I lived with a cocaine addict for 3 years, so I know what the more common methods of muling are, how easy it is to spot a drug dealer if you know what to look for, and how easy it is to become a mule without knowing it. You may also be surprised to find out that more often than not, drug dealers are women. With all due respect, you really do not have a clue what you're talking about in this arena.

So you see, because of my experiences, I know that both the anti-drug & pro-legalization movements are expert BS artists and very adept at winning people to join one side or the other, leaving plenty of victims in the wake of their conflict.

My experiences are also one of the reasons I'm getting into nursing. If I can save one victim of the war on drugs, I'll rest peacefully.

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A few things:

- Don't put words in my mouth; I'm not rationalizing anything. I'm simply telling you a fact -- that some of the best & brightest in this country use drugs, and some of them happen to be very successful.

- You're assuming that I'm talking about hard drugs, and illegal drugs -- this is probably because I posed my original question in a thread about a cocaine addict. As I said before, my fault on that one.

[

- Yes, I don't see my friends 24-7 but I do see them more than you do, so how can you reasonably profess to know more than I do about their usage? :uhoh21:

- Maria Full of Grace shows a very barbaric and extreme example of drug muling. It is shocking & often used as anti-drug propaganda to counter the movies that glorify & romanticize drugs, rightly so! I lived with a cocaine addict for 3 years, so I know what the more common methods of muling are, how easy it is to spot a drug dealer if you know what to look for, and how easy it is to become a mule without knowing it. You may also be surprised to find out that more often than not, drug dealers are women. With all due respect, you really do not have a clue what you're talking about in this arena.

So you see, because of my experiences, I know that both the anti-drug & pro-legalization movements are expert bullshit artists and very adept at winning people to join one side or the other, leaving plenty of victims in the wake of their conflict.

My experiences are also one of the reasons I'm getting into nursing. If I can save one victim of the war on drugs, I'll rest peacefully.

I didn't put any words into your mouth-I only used what you said. You were saying basically that as long as someone is functioning and "bright" that drug use is okay. No, I don't know your friends, and didn't profess to do-I only said that based on education and experience, I know that at some point, most people who do addictive drugs reach a crisis point.

And please just as you said I don't know your friends, you don't know me, I don't post about something unless I do know what I am talking about, and I do know what I am talking about here-the long term effects of chronic drug use, and the dangers people who use pose to those around them-I made no comment about the gender of drug dealers, only the effects of drugs and drug dealing-(BTW where did you get that fact? Or is it just your opinion?)-I was referring to drug dealers in general-if you would of taken the time to read my post, you would of noticed that I said "drug dealers"-not "men drug dealers" or "all drug dealers are men"-So why make that statement?

[YOUR QUOTE]

"Anyway, the reason I asked is because I know of many illegal drug users (not abusers) that are completely functional in society and actually VERY successful. If we were to report these people at work for the illegal things they chose to do on their own time, it would eliminate the contributions some of the best, brightest, and hardest working members of our society."

Your own quote-you use the word "Illegal""

No-you were talking about turning people in who did drugs; you were stating that if people who did drugs were turned in, "we'd lose some of our best and brightest"-If you use the word "turn in" it means "turn in" to the police, authorities, powers that be, etc, etc, -something you would only do if someone was doing illegal drugs. Your entire question was about whether or not to turn someone in if they were doing drugs on their own time but were really "bright" and high functioning-that means that they are doing illegal drugs, otherwise you never would of posted your question. You are trying to back peddle now. Too Late.

"My experiences are also one of the reasons I'm getting into nursing. If I can save one victim of the war on drugs, I'll rest peacefully."

Right. But what if the nurse helping you during a code is burnt out from a night of partying on "her own time?"

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Please don't personalize this. Debate the question, not the person. Stay with the topic please.

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You should call the Board of Nursing in your state and ask their advice about what to do. You don't have to give any details about you or the nurse but explain the situation without having to make a complaint. In my state (Virginia), they get calls everyday from other nurses, managers, etc.... with questions about what to do about anything that pertains to nursing.

My other concern is that you know now and if you do nothing and a patient is hurt or god forbid, killed by this nurse while she is under the influence, you could get in a lot of trouble. She is an addict and if caught may blame you --- Lori knew I was doing it and did nothing!

Good luck and let us know what you decide

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