Substance abusers disillusion me...

[FireStarterRN]

Had another ETOH withdrawal patient yesterday, he was also a mental health patient in real life, chronically unemployed, and had been readmitted after being discharged post knee-replacement surgery (thank you U.S. taxpayer!), meth positive and in full blown ETOH withdrawal.

High-dose protocol, IV Ativan q 1/2 hour, 1:1 sitter in room + wrist restraints. Any time the patient awoke he launched into loud abusive profanity and tried to grab the crotch of the sitter.

I guess one positive in all this is job security for healthcare professionals, including myself. But, I must admit, this type of patient disillusions me...

I ask you, how does a person such as this afford a 1/5 of whiskey a day, plus methamphetimine???

[Atheos]

They see themselves as victims.

They ARE victims...

They just don't realize they are victims of themselves. 'Our self' usually being either our best ally or WORST nightmare.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

This is one example of how mental illness can be contagious. Sure drives me nuts to work around the druggies.

[tencat]

Vicims? Ummmm....not really. They have CHOSEN the lifestyle they lead. They had a choice not to take the meth, crack, whatever, but chose to do it. So, while I will treat them as I will treat anyone else because they are human beings who deserve to be treated decently, I will NOT feel 'sorry' for them because they are 'victims'. They brought it on themselves.

[Atheos]

Vicims? Ummmm....not really. They have CHOSEN the lifestyle they lead. They had a choice not to take the meth, crack, whatever, but chose to do it. So, while I will treat them as I will treat anyone else because they are human beings who deserve to be treated decently, I will NOT feel 'sorry' for them because they are 'victims'. They brought it on themselves.

I said they were victims of themselves.

Not that you had to have compassion for your patient or feel sorry for them. That's your issue.

[clairebearrn]

I still think these people need some help, if they want it. Some of them don't know any other life than the one they have so they don't know how to get out of it much less. Some want to lead that life and if they don't want to change-they can't. Others need someone to help them...I know it gets pretty frustrating to deal with them. I work in the ER and I always end up with a drug abuser. I just had one who wanted dilaudid every 30 minutes. Why? cuz he was addicted to marijuana since he was 12 and nothing could alleviate his 'pain.' I felt bad because he was just a kid when he started. Like stanley said- they are victims of themselves and it is up to them to change, but they need support or else they end up drowning in themselves again.

[Atheos]

Why? cuz he was addicted to marijuana since he was 12 and nothing could alleviate his 'pain.' I felt bad because he was just a kid when he started.

He just lied to you. Addicted to marijuana. ROFL. Going from weed to dilaudid? More likely he's hooked on heroin or something or just fishing. Even long term marijuana usage is more akin to cigarettes. You don't get all the nastiness like some of the heavy drugs.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I see addicts and alcoholics, frankly, as horribly depressed and/or anxious people with underlying mental health problems that they are trying to self-medicate away.

That is NOT to say that they can't be raging pains in the butt.

[clairebearrn]

Really!!!!? Cannabis was the only thing that came up on his tox report. I know people personally that have used weed long term and nothing works for their pain just weed. This patient hadn't had their 'daily' blunt so dilaudid and benadryl gave him that high to make his pain go away. (or that was his explanation after I drilled him with questions) He was a s/p assault so was in pain. Ha, maybe am gullible. still pain is pain right and as nurses we've gotta help them regardless of their history!!!

So you just quit like that? (if you don't mind me asking) I knew it wasn't that bad. My friend keeps telling me he has side effects from trying to quit...i knew he was a liar...haha...'what I do for fun' (sorry out of context!)

[cursedandblessed]

I'm only in my first semester of clinicals but I'm married to an alcoholic both while he was active and is now sober X 3 years 9 months today.

In our involvement with his AA groups, I've seen the frequent fliers, they come in, play at getting sobriety or getting clean then end up back in their disease some are court ordered, some are just playing to get something. We've had those we've tried to help try to commit suicide by jumping off of bridges, we've had some commit suicide because they just don't know any other way to deal with life.

My husband spent his ten days in rehab really working to find life again. His bottom was reached when he lost his license, and then his sister committed suicide that same week due to her alcoholism/addiction. His brother is an alcoholic, as well as his father was until he died from liver failure. They were/are all functioning with jobs and they did/do support their families financially.

My husband's nurses were really great to him. They treated him well and never looked at him nastily. We still see one of them when he sees his addiction psychiatrist. She always seems very proud of him. That really means a lot to him.

I know there are those who seem hopeless (I thought my husband was), and many of them might very well be, but you just never know.

[clairebearrn]

I agree with you sue. Most of the patients seen due to psych problems have a hx of drug or ETOH abuse and vice versa. Now I believe these REALLY need help because they can't quit the drugs on their own.

[bossynurse101]

I'm only in my first semester . . . My husband's nurses were really great to him. They treated him well and never looked at him nastily. We still see one of them when he sees his addiction psychiatrist. She always seems very proud of him. That really means a lot to him.

I.

Wow I guess he didnt have some of the nurses that have replied to this post. It sickens me to think that some fellow nurses are so judgemental. Do you really think that they CHOSE to become pieces of sh*t? Do you really think they have a choice to stop after thier body is ravaged and screaming with every fiber to be fed (fill in the blank)? Do you have any idea where they've been or are you just surmising they look like a duck, walk like a duck, whatever? What gives you the right to pass judgement on anyone until you have been where they have been? Until you have the genes of their parents and lived their lives. Sure, a horrific past is NO excuse to make bad choices, but some us made the choices bad or not. Doenst make us BAD people, just sick people. I can not believe that people so educated on the human body dont see an illness of the brain and psyche like diabetes or anything else that has been termed an illness by the AMA.

Celebrated seven years clean and sober last month. Oh yes, from heroin to cocaine to four months in jail to the bottom and back. I thought that I was making an ok decision to be proud and share my story with some of my collegues. After reading these posts, I can only wonder what they REALLY say behind my back. I suppose one of the positives about an online forum is the annonymity to be honest and tell people what you REALLY think about your "scum" patients. I'll keep my story to myself from now on, you can believe that.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Bossynurse, you, yourself, sound awfully judgmental in your post, I thought I would point out, in case you weren't aware. I think it would be nice to hear your perspective without you raking other people over the coals for expressing theirs...