Recovery- PEth test

Nurses Recovery

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Hi all, I am in a recovery program (DOC: Alcohol) and was selected for a PEth test today. I have only been in the program for a few months and slipped up 11 days ago. I had 4.5 light beers. I'm pretty stressed because it's not likely that I will pass. What happens when you fail? 

Please save the lectures. 

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I think it depends on your state.. where I am, they send people to IOP for 4 to 5 weeks and maybe add time to your monitoring agreement..

Specializes in OPO/ED.

Admit nothing until the test comes back and you know if it's positive or not. 

If it's not positive, take that as a lesson, you do not want to be in the program longer than you have to be. Reach out to people in your groups or attend more meetings etc. If you feel you need further help then talk to your case manager as a LAST RESORT. 

1 Votes

Peth in the blood is additive, so it depends on how long your period of not drinking was.  When did you last drink/how often before the 4.5 beers episode?

@universe93B I've been completely abstinent for months prior. 

Jpweston said:

@universe93B I've been completely abstinent for months prior. 

Then this is negative.  Your peth might have been a touch above 20ng at day 2 but had enough so much time to get back below 20ng with the 11.5 days.

Universe93B said:

Then this is negative.  Your peth might have been a touch above 20ng at day 2 but had enough so much time to get back below 20ng with the 11.5 days.

4.5 beers is technically a "binge" and I thought it would show a "binge episode". Is the test just looking for frequent binge episodes over weeks? I've only had the PEth test one other time and didn't have to worry at all, I didn't do any research on it before now. 

Jpweston said:

4.5 beers is technically a "binge" and I thought it would show a "binge episode". Is the test just looking for frequent binge episodes over weeks? I've only had the PEth test one other time and didn't have to worry at all, I didn't do any research on it before now. 

It's supposed to detect "small" binges if the Peth is done within 5 days.  It can even detect single drinking episodes if the test is done within 5 days as well.  But if you had not drank at least 4-5 weeks before any episode, the Peth is very difficult to keep above 20ng for any length of time.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

How did this turn out for you?

Healer555 said:

How did this turn out for you?

I haven't heard anything. I'm not sure how long the test takes so I'm still stressing. The program I am in, no news is good news. They call if you have a positive. (Which I think should be illegal to not get your results directly.)

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatry.
Jpweston said:

I haven't heard anything. I'm not sure how long the test takes so I'm still stressing. The program I am in, no news is good news. They call if you have a positive. (Which I think should be illegal to not get your results directly.)

Hoping it's good. For us we don't hear from anyone unless it's positive but we can check in the portal we use to check in. I think we also deserve to know what they are testing for but we are treated worse than convicts

2 Votes
Healer555 said:

Hoping it's good. For us we don't hear from anyone unless it's positive but we can check in the portal we use to check in. I think we also deserve to know what they are testing for but we are treated worse than convicts

Thank you, I'm hoping so too! 
I really don't understand how they can get away with this stuff. They don't give a *** about us, but preach that they do. 

1 Votes
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