Drug Use on the unit

[xerox]

wondering how other psychiatric units deal with drug use, specifically marijuana, on their unit. What are the consequences, and how much is it a problem?

[adrienurse, LPN]

Personally, I think it should be dealt with the same way that it does in the community. Nurses should be mindful though that marijuana use is essentially an attempt (misguided albeit) to medicate oneself and that attempts should be made to provide pharmaceutical treatment to treat the underlying problem.

[MALE*RN*777]

Would you want someone on mind altering drugs taking care of you or a loved one? What are your laws? This is not acceptable.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Okay, I interpreted this as the patients were using -- not the staff. Zero tolerance for that, if the wellbeing of the patients is being compromised.

[xerox]

I was referring to marijuana use among patients. We have had more of it lately, and curious how other units deal with it....what's your protocol?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I was working PRN at a psychiatric hospital up until a few months ago. It was quite common for family members to smuggle narcotic pills into the facility during visiting hours. Our occasional searches of the patient rooms would yield morphine sulfate pills (oramorph), Vicodin, oxycodone, and other pain pills without the script to accompany them. Since this facility was so new, the protocol was to simply waste the pills with a witness and document that they were found in the patient's room.

[MALE*RN*777]

Sorry I miss understood who you speaking of using the illegal drugs. I would report it to the security department at the hospital who should then report the finding to the law enforcement agency in your area. They could bring charges not only for the illegal use, but investigate whoever brought it in and the fact (at least it is in our state) that it is illegal to smoke inside a hospital to begin with. We also have policies that if a person whether family or not is causing issues that could disrupt the patients progress then they could be ordered by the doctor to stay away from the hospital and this could include telephone and mail privileges. We watch our patients as they open their mail to check for contraband along with items brought in by the family or friends.

[Psychaprn]

Pt.'s who use on the unit should be restricted to the unit and told they will be discharged and banned from the hospital if they do it again. Also legal charges will be filed.