So I am getting ready for bsn nursing school to start in the summer. One of the things that was required was a drug test. I took it without any hesitation, since I do not take any drugs. However, I did messed up before the drug test. Because of all the stress of moving, getting ready for nursing school, and personal life things my mother suggested I take one her lorazepam pill to help me calm down. I took it without hesitation because it a pretty universally used drug.
The part that I messed up at is that I took it before the drug test and it showed up. I obviously have no documentation saying that I have a prescription. So now I am kicking myself in the head and I don't know what to do.
What are the consequences for this? Will I be prevented to start? Are there any legal problems I should worry about? Can I retake it to show I am not an addict or have a problem with drugs? I am thinking of e-mailing my programs director to explain my situation and tell him "I am an idiot, I am not an addict, and I am very sorry. Please don't kick me out". Thoughts?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Absolutely if you are planning to go to nursing school and you have to take a drug test you need to provide a prescription for any controlled substance before you take the test they generally ask you do you take any prescription drugs and if you do you say yes number two it's illegal to take prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you which if you're getting your BSN maybe you already have an LPN or an RN you should know this obviously if you're going to college you should know this you're not a baby they could absolutely deny you entry for a positive drug test I doubt you would have criminal charges but they could very definitely did not you entry to the program
People SNORT Wellbutrin for fun?! Now THAT is scurry. Wellbutrin does enough weird stuff when you take it properly.
I had a patient take the two Percocet I handed him in a med cup quickly dump them out onto the overbed table and crush them with a small flashlight sitting on the table. As I was saying What are you doing?? he put his face down to the table and snorted that blue powder up like nose candy. I had never seen anyone do that and was stunned, he told me he does it all the time because it Kicks In Faster. WTH?
I had a patient take the two Percocet I handed him in a med cup quickly dump them out onto the overbed table and crush them with a small flashlight sitting on the table. As I was saying What are you doing?? he put his face down to the table and snorted that blue powder up like nose candy. I had never seen anyone do that and was stunned, he told me he does it all the time because it Kicks In Faster. WTH?
People snort all kinds of things, esp. opioids. Most don't have the nerve to do it in front of a healthcare provider; that's pretty gutsy.
Absolutely if you are planning to go to nursing school and you have to take a drug test you need to provide a prescription for any controlled substance before you take the test they generally ask you do you take any prescription drugs and if you do you say yes number two it's illegal to take prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you which if you're getting your BSN maybe you already have an LPN or an RN you should know this obviously if you're going to college you should know this you're not a baby they could absolutely deny you entry for a positive drug test I doubt you would have criminal charges but they could very definitely did not you entry to the program
It it is against TOS to recommend, but I might sugest to me, to seek RX fom my provider
This was going to be my idea. Just reading your posts, you sound like you are anxious, so seeking treatment seems logical. All benzos show up in tox screens the same way, and if you brought them a current prescription bottle, I don't know how much they would look into seeing if you had one on the date you took the test.
Unfortunately you may have more than kind of messed up. It's highly likely that despite your best intentions you won't be allowed to continue in this program. But I guess it is worth a shot to speak to somebody high enough in the program [like the Dean if possible] to see if there is a snowballs chance in Hades of your being admitted despite this. At the least they should allow you to withdraw which would let you to apply to different schools without this hanging over your head.
I won't chastise you for your mistake as I can easily see how this could happen. You are not a nurse [yet] so you don't have that education to know taking one of Mom's pills was actually a big no-no. Sadly this might be a harsh way to learn that lesson.
As far as I know it's ill advised, but not illegal, to share rx drugs that are not controlled substances.
I would not make that assumption. I found this in a quick google search. I would bet these laws are found in many if not most states.
This is a fairly common question and the answer is yes, it is illegal to share any prescription medication.The laws in Louisiana relative to prescription drugs used to mainly apply to pain medications and other controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Most people were aware that it was and is against the law to possess prescription pain medication unless you have a valid prescription. However, in 2006, our legislature passed a law that made it illegal to possess any prescribed medication without a valid prescription. The law refers to these (non-CDS) drugs as Legend†drugs.
It's not an assumption, just a remnant of knowledge from when I worked in a pharmacy (which was a long time ago, and why I said as far as I know). I posted that from my phone, and found that link as well with a Google search inspired by curiosity. That state law went into effect in 2006, though, which strongly suggests that there is no federal regulation against taking non-controlled rx meds, making it a state-by-state choice. The sharer could be seen as "dispensing" which is not legal without a prescription, but it's still grey. Most sites about drug sharing are specifically targeting controlled substances, so it's not all that easy to know for sure.
As I said it's ill advised, legal or not, but sharing someone's albuterol inhaler or antibiotic is not the same issue legally as sharing controlled substances. Possessing or taking a controlled substance without a current valid prescription is a federal offense.
I didn't catch how old the OP is, but I have the impression she is young.
A younger person, not a nurse so maybe not knowledgeable about meds is given a med by her mother. We are thinking of the OP as an adult and comparing her to a nurse. She might be a non med savvy, semi-sheltered young adult living with her parents and lacking life experience. How many non nurses think drug tests are to test for street drugs? I hope this isn't the end of a dream.
For all the people saying, "How would lay people know it's illegal to share controlled substances?" every time I've filled a controlled script, it had an orange sticker right on it informing me so.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
For all the people saying, "How would lay people know it's illegal to share controlled substances?" every time I've filled a controlled script, it had an orange sticker right on it informing me so.
I just looked at my bottle of Xanax. No such sticker or similar wording anywhere on the label.
OCNRN63, RN
5,979 Posts
Holy run on sentence!