Leigh37

Hey there, I totally understand the Alone feeling. I completely felt the same way and still do at times. I also came out with my addiction to prescription pain meds. I really don’t feel it’s fair to be in the KARE program given my issue had nothing to do with work and I am the one that came out with it bc I took time off from work to go to rehab. I live in a small town so there’s not many people to talk to about this. The person that has helped me the most is my case manager. We can do this. We WILL get through this.

It is totally random! I have had 3 tests in 9 days and I have gone almost 1 month in between. I am coming up on my first year completed... and yes it sucks. I hope the feeling of huge inconvenience goes away at some point. I was BEYOND nervous and anxious before I started... BUT it does slowly just become part of your life. Like you alcohol wasn’t part of my issue. I might have had a drink once every 6 months. So with that being said.. DONT do it. Especially with it not being your issue it isn’t worth it. They will catch you.

You are SO VERY CORRECT!!!!

This is what has bothered me the most!! The what if I am here or there or we're in vacation etc etc when I am chosen to test!!! It makes me want to do NOTHING!! I have 3 children in all sorts of activities and then of course you have holidays... to me it's just too much to expect of someone!! I am about 3 weeks in and had my first screen yesterday... I have read some have been selected as much as 3x in 7 and 10 days!!! Complete BULLCRAP.

I could really really use words of positivity and encouragement... this thing has been DOWN. I don't really know why being in this program seems like such a life long crazy sentence. It' has my anxiety through the roof!!! I just feel like it is serious overkill. It's messing with mentally and emotionally BAD!

It's mega overkill I feel... I also believe there should be some sort of incentive program... it shouldn't 5 years under their thumb if you have been completely successful within the first 2-3 years. I also don't feel this should be PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. It's hard enough to go through this without any Person able to look it up!!! I was denied a job at a Privately owned Peds practice bc this is PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE!!!! No one should know expect myself, the KBN and my employer!

I feel the same!!!! I am about 3 weeks in and fav my first urine today. I have spoken to my case manager multiples times bc I am an anxious nervous wreck k!!! The foods, sprays, OTC meds etc etc to avoid is nuts!!!! It makes you feel like no matter what you have done you are going up test positive for something!!!! I was told not to even SMELL HAND SANITIZER!!!! Smell it!!!! Y'all, I am not even a month in and feel freaking defeated as hell and I am almost 1 year clean and sober!!! And to think this is for 5 years!! No matter where you are, what your plans st or even if you are in the middle of Disney world you may have to find a way to find somewhere to do a urine in the middle of your family vacation... and you know going somewhere in Orlando to try and pee in a dang cup will take up a good chunk of your children's day!!!! I feel defeated already.

Yes I about died when they told me NO BENADRYL and then said and No sanitizer with alcohol AND THEN said don't even SMELL IT! I was like you have to be kidding me right now.

You have to give your employer a copy of your KARE agreement and your employer fills out paper work monthly in which they send to the BOARDof nursing.

I understand... I guess with me the thing is.. is this had nothing to do with work. Got addicted to prescription pain meds and as hard as it was I told my husband I needed to go get help.. So I thought I should be honest and tell my supervisor what was up and where I was going. I had no idea how long I would be off, ya know? Anyways, when I come back to work I was called to HR and told basically it was the law that any nurse in KY with a substance abuse problem had to self report. Of course I was still in a bad way and not feeling back to myself and did what I was told. Not knowing THIS is what would happen. So this is very frustrating to me for many reasons. I mean a lot of this is mega overkill. Especially the fact that it's 5 dang years. Thank you for responding.. I have been googling and trying to find a support group with other nurses. I really need this.

So you're enjoying this program? I gotta say I just started I am beyond anxious and overwhelmed.

I feel you,girl!! Mine had NOTHING to do with my job but I was honest when I took time off to go to rehab... never been in any kind of trouble at all. But I was told by my employer that I HAD to self report to the KBN. So now here I am under the thumb of the KBN for FIVE YEARS!!! Yes, 5!!! This was a total innocent thing (kidney stones and 4 root canals) got addicted to prescribed medication and fixed it myself. Only to now have to deal with this. I am beyond overwhelmed and my anxiety is through the roof!!! I also think the calling in every single day no matter where you are or what you ar doing is crap!! To say I am not happy with this would be an understatement... I have 2 therapists I see and they both absolutely cannot believe all this! And the fact that they make this PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE is CRAP!! I was turned down a job at a privately owned Peds office ( they knew everything) but They at the end of the day said if this was private knowledge between you, me and KBN that's one thing. But they make it PUBLIC!!!! That is BS!!! Do they not think we are going through enough without them letting any and everyone know that looks me up?? I was DENIED a job bc the KBN feels the needs to let every freaking person know that wants to look it up!!

Hey!! I just enrolled into the program and I got to tell you... it has set my anxiety into overdrive!!! Feeling almost the same as when I was in and after rehab. I ended up addicted to prescribed pain medication after multiple kidney stones and 4 root canals in a small amount of time. I was totally honest with my employer as to why I took off work when I went to rehab... never did my addiction have ANYTHINGto do with work. I recognized my problem and chose to be truthful abdgo to rehab. I was told by my employer it was law that I had to self report with my issue and now here I am enrolled in what feels like a life long sentence of being under the KBN's thumb. The checking in daily and wondering how it will affect my day (seeing as I have 3 kiddos) and am run ragged as it is. Ex: were going to Disney soon and was basically told, too bad you still would have to find SOMEWHERE IN ORLANDO... to pee in a cup! I think that's just crazy! I also live in a small town and am still confused as to where I am supposed to find somewhere on a Saturday or Sunday to do a drug screen!! I am not paying 600.00 or more to go to the ER! Also 3 meetings a week seems a little much.. especially when you live in a town as small as I do. I shouldn't have to put myself in a place where other people I would never tell what has went on will now know. As I mentioned before I also think that the 5 year span of this agreement is nuts. Especially since as I said before this had nothing to do with my job therefore nothing to do directly with my license. I don't know, I am just so happy I found this forum. I also was denied a job at a Peds office (they knew everything) but was denied a job bc the KARE program and those in it are PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE!! It's one thing for your employer to know but the fact that any person could google and find my name associated to this program is just wrong. I feel like you are taking a "Health Issue" and splashing it everywhere! That is NOT necessary. The only people that need to know is myself, KBN and my employer. How is this not considered a HIPPA violation or similar. We're going through beyond enough as is without y'all making it PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. I have also been told by many people in my IOP group that this is worse than drug court... and it's definitely a lot longer. I know I am rambling and hope this made some sense. It's hard to see what I am typing on my phone. :)

Just enrolled and am SUPER ANXIOUS about it!!! But time

Oh my goodness y'all... my friend just found this for me... I have recently been enrolled into the KARE program and for some reason I feel so defeated and overwhelmed with it. I think it's more or less the whole 5 DANG YEAR thing!! Anyone else super super anxious about this? I am so happy to find somewhere that I can talk to nurses going through the same.