Ramp in NJ

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I just started with RAMP in NJ. My intake was on May 8th. I am tested for alcohol due to my DWI. I told ramp my last alcohol intake was a month ago. I got my blood tested for alcohol. They test for Phosphatidyl Ethanol which was positive. During MR the doctor told me Ethanol tends to stick with RBC's for close to one month and hence the positive result.

Has anyone experienced this with Ramp during evaluation? I am still in evaluation phase for 90 days. If yes...... what can I expect next as my CM is not really helpful. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

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Specializes in Clinical Leadership, Staff Development, Education.

I have not experienced this, but I would think the level detected in the pEth test will be considered. It may help if the level matched up with your admission of last drink a month ago. Would expect it to be on the low side.

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I’ve been in Ramp for 2 years. My advice is to just do exactly what they ask, don’t fight them.

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Yes that's what I hear. The guidelines are so strict though. You can't use your hand sanitizer, hair sprays, eat penne with vodka sauce or chicken marsala and list goes on and on........ It seems like it's set to fail you. And all with your expense:(

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Specializes in OR.
8 hours ago, Elias1234 said:

Yes that's what I hear. The guidelines are so strict though. You can't use your hand sanitizer, hair sprays, eat penne with vodka sauce or chicken marsala and list goes on and on........ It seems like it's set to fail you. And all with your expense:(

This is par for the course with most of the facets of these programs, now unfortunately. It certainly has been my experience with mine. If SUD is your issue, there is no interest in your recovery. If any other form of mental health or life concern, even if totally irrelevant to nursing, is the issue, it will be crammed into a little SUD oriented box to justify monitoring....and there will still be no interest in your recovery.

These programs are about punishment, control, and money, in varying order depending on who’s talking. If you need and/or find recovery, my opinion is that most of the time, it’s in spite of these programs, not because of it. Having said that, there are people out there that need what a program/contract requires in order to stay sober, etc. In spite of of my extremely negative (and that’s putting it mildly) experience, I maintain that there are decent facets of programs that have done decent things for people. I think there are probably decent case managers out there that try and do right by the participants they handle. I’ve never personally been witness to any such thing, but like unicorns, I’m sure they’re out there.

The best advice I’ve got is pretty much what everyone else says...it sucks, but put your head down and do what they tell you. While no, fighting them is not going to get you far, you do need to advocate for yourself. Know your contract inside and out and follow it to a tee. Know exactly what you are required to do and do it exactly how they say, no matter how stupid it sounds and probably is. ‘I didn’t know’ doesn’t go far with these kind of programs. Consider it like court probation with less mercy and no time off for good behavior.

Is it right? No. But it is. And one day it won’t be. In the meantime, As you’ve gotten a DWI, hopefully it was a one time bad decision that you won’t make again.

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I have been in RAMP in NJ for about 6 months. I wish you luck.

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Hi. I am living in TX and willing be starting RAMP from the Texas peer assistance program next year. I will have about two years completed with TPAPN before I start RAMP. I’ll be moving to NJ in January. I have a few questions- since my program in TX is 3 years total- will RAMP make me complete a total of five years or will they allow just three total since that is what my contract stated in TX? Also 2) do they just do UDS or can I expect hair tests as well? I was in TPAPN for adderall abuse and again, will have completed 2 years by the time I move to NJ

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On 5/29/2019 at 5:02 PM, Elias1234 said:

I just started with RAMP in NJ. My intake was on May 8th. I am tested for alcohol due to my DWI. I told ramp my last alcohol intake was a month ago. I got my blood tested for alcohol. They test for Phosphatidyl Ethanol which was positive. During MR the doctor told me Ethanol tends to stick with RBC's for close to one month and hence the positive result.

Has anyone experienced this with Ramp during evaluation? I am still in evaluation phase for 90 days. If yes...... what can I expect next as my CM is not really helpful. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

Hi- I will be starting RAMP sometime next year as I will be transferring from another states monitoring program. I have some questions and I’m hoping you can PM me? I can’t figure out how to PM on here...

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Specializes in LTAC.

SiciliyisbestMSN

can you give us an update? Whatever happened?

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Specializes in LTAC.

Sicilyisbest

any updates? How is the program going?

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