Nursing Student with a Drug Addiction

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Hi guys:

I have already asked this question on the Friends/Family of Addicts forum I belong to, so I thought I would get your opinion as well.

My husband is a 3 1/2 years clean, recovering addict. His good friend (I'll call him J), who he met in AA, recently got accepted into nursing school for this coming fall 2011. J was clean for 3 years when he relapsed this past fall 2010 (heroin, pills, alcohol). J continues to use, is refusing to go into rehab, and as far as I know plans to start nursing school in the fall, clean/sober or not. I have three main concerns: 1. the waiting list is very long and he will be taking a spot from someone who would better take advantage of the program, 2. J will be impaired and having patient contact, and I worry about the patients he may be responsible for, 3. At some point he will have access to narcotics that he will be able to steal.

Now, the F/F of Addicts people mostly just said to let the situation be, and that J would fail out on his own anyways. But I feel as if I should contact the nursing school to let them know (I went to the same nursing school). Because who knows how long it will take him to fail on his own, and how many patients/narcotics he will have contact with, besides the fact that someone else will have to wait another semester to get into the program if he takes the spot.

So what do you all think? Should I contact the school?

(Feel free to move this to another forum topic; I didn't think it fit great in the Nurses in Recovery forum since he is not yet a nurse, or in recovery).

Thanks everyone!

Vanessa

The way talk goes around and rumors are fabricated, I would not make the allegation to the school unless you actually saw him using. Same way the police often say about third party witnessed stuff. "I can't do anything because I didn't see it myself".

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Specializes in Cardiac step down unit.

We drug tested every semester prior to the semester starting. I know in Illinois (where I went to school, it is a law to do this, not a choice.

What I would do is wait until he comes to the point of orientation and being tested for the first time. If this school does not do mandatory testing, at that point I would speak to the director of the program and let her know what you know. She/he can order a drug screen due to suspicion. They will not tell the person in question why they have the suspicion or who brought it to their attention.

Being a snitch has NOTHING to do with it. That is the WORST advice I would give you on this. It is about patient safety. If this person is in clinicals impaired, one wrong decision could harm or kill a patient. NOTHING is more first and foremost than patient safety.

Screw thinking of the other students trying to get into the program, think about the patient. What if it was you or a family member being cared for by this person and something tragic happened? I would not want this on my conscience, and certainly, it is preventable.

Kelly

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1. the waiting list is very long and he will be taking a spot from someone who would better take advantage of the program

I've never understood why people are always so concerned about taking spots from those supposedly more deserved. Schools admit based on a variety of things but I've never heard of an admissions committee assessing "deservedness" when selecting students.

I agree with Trenia- stay out of it unless you have witnessed illegal behavior.

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Specializes in Critical Care. CVICU. Adult and Peds PACU..

We were drug tested on orientation day. If people don't pass, I am sure they will offer the position to someone else.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych, Tele, ICU.

Most nursing schools drug screen new students-its part of their accreditation process. He will fail, if he is using. There are alternates, that are ready to go should anyone not be admitted because of their drug screen.

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

You wrote - "Now, the F/F of Addicts people mostly just said to let the situation be, and that J would fail out on his own anyways. But I feel as if I should contact the nursing school to let them know (I went to the same nursing school). Because who knows how long it will take him to fail on his own, and how many patients/narcotics he will have contact with, besides the fact that someone else will have to wait another semester to get into the program if he takes the spot."

My thoughts and response -

Why wont listen to the experts of F/F? As someones wife who is in recovery I am sure you are familiar with Al-anon and CODA -where the philosophy is "its a family disease" ... here are some slogans right from them

Do not to create a crisis nor prevent one from happening

If you're working your own program properly,you won't have time to work someone else's!!

Stop watering the weeds!!

Letting go of others will lift my own spirit high today.

A person singing her own praises is usually singing solo -- and out of tune.

How about letting people off the hook today?

I dont have friends or relationships I have hostages

I don't have relationships ~ I have Close Encounters.

I get lots of messages from God, but most are in my own handwriting.

If you have to talk to more than three people about the same problem, you don't want help, you want attention.

My relationship isn't my problem and it isn't my solution.

"I'm an egomaniac with an inferiority complex."

"Let go and let G*d"

Mind your own business - just what is your business ?

You seem bent on your agenda and wanting validation. To me your self serving mission has another purpose and I hope you really introspect your motives if your co addiction will allow you to.

All the best one day at a time and if that isn't enough take it one minute at a time till you get there.

Marc

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don't be a snitch.

actually, snitching is the least of the problems here.

i've always been a believer in karma, recognizing that sometimes, being proactive is warranted.

however, it seems you're focused on wanting to report this person...

which is why you are seeking advice from here.

if you do this, i would do so anonymously.

do not mention you attended the school, but you can share the hx of how you came to know.

and then drop it...forever.

you will have done what you sought out to do, and it'll be on the school as to what they do with this info.

much luck.

leslie:)

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Specializes in FNP.

Oh brother. Mind your own business, the situation will rectify itself.

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Unless you have personally been with him while he was doing whatever drug, I think you should stay out of it. You may be 99% sure he has relapsed, but it could just be people blowing smoke.

He has admitted to doing everything I have said. I am 100% sure he has relapsed. He and my husband are (were) quite close. He was drinking in front of my husband, his girlfriend has found his needles and heroin & has seen him doing pills and drinking, and he has admitted to doing heroin, alcohol and pills on a daily basis.

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I do not know of any nursing school or medical center that you could ever attend/be employed at that one would not have to take a drug test and agree to random testing at the centers discretion. If he is using, he will be found out. If he stays sober, good for him.

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You wrote - "Now, the F/F of Addicts people mostly just said to let the situation be, and that J would fail out on his own anyways. But I feel as if I should contact the nursing school to let them know (I went to the same nursing school). Because who knows how long it will take him to fail on his own, and how many patients/narcotics he will have contact with, besides the fact that someone else will have to wait another semester to get into the program if he takes the spot."

My thoughts and response -

Why wont listen to the experts of F/F? As someones wife who is in recovery I am sure you are familiar with Al-anon and CODA -where the philosophy is "its a family disease" ... here are some slogans right from them

Do not to create a crisis nor prevent one from happening

If you're working your own program properly,you won't have time to work someone else's!!

Stop watering the weeds!!

Letting go of others will lift my own spirit high today.

A person singing her own praises is usually singing solo -- and out of tune.

How about letting people off the hook today?

I dont have friends or relationships I have hostages

I don't have relationships ~ I have Close Encounters.

I get lots of messages from God, but most are in my own handwriting.

If you have to talk to more than three people about the same problem, you don't want help, you want attention.

My relationship isn't my problem and it isn't my solution.

"I'm an egomaniac with an inferiority complex."

"Let go and let G*d"

Mind your own business - just what is your business ?

You seem bent on your agenda and wanting validation. To me your self serving mission has another purpose and I hope you really introspect your motives if your co addiction will allow you to.

All the best one day at a time and if that isn't enough take it one minute at a time till you get there.

Marc

As the wife of a (now recovering) addict, I have learned that I am not a co-dependent. My concern has nothing to do with J and wanting to get him clean, or my gain in this. My only "mission" is to possibly prevent future harm to patients; I do not at all understand how any of this is "self-serving" or what I stand to gain in this. I am not "bent" on an agenda and wanting "validation." I simply have my opinion on what I should do and am trying to find others' opinions to decide if what I think is correct or not. Also, the F/F people are not experts that I talked with, they are simply other friends/family like myself. I apologize for coming to a board to ask for opinions on a difficult situation and apparently pushing some button with you.

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I do not know of any nursing school or medical center that you could ever attend/be employed at that one would not have to take a drug test and agree to random testing at the centers discretion. If he is using, he will be found out. If he stays sober, good for him.

I know, I have been tested at every hospital job I have had. 'Funny' side note...the only job I have *not* been drug tested for was a home health position. How a place who has nurses in patients' homes and driving around on their own does not drug test people is beyond me. Needless to say, that company had many other issues and I did not stick around long.

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