Treated any differently for street drugs?

[spizwink]

I was an RN for 20 plus years- never a problem, never diverted drugs, etc. Started taking pain meds after severe horseback riding injury. Going thru bad divorce- had issues. Long story short, I started going to NA (which I am still a firm believer in) and hooked up with someone that I relapsed with and became addicted to heroin. I did the geographic change working as a traveler. Got busted on a Sat nite with heroin and cocaine in my car- not all mine but that doesnt matter, it was my car. I abandoned pursuit of my perm Ca license, sunk into the depths of hell for awhile until I was sick and tired enough. Went to detox, OP program and did a year plus in sober living. Meanwhile my Ga lic expired. I am now trying to reinstate my license. Crazy, but when i went voluntarily to advocacy group in Ca some of the nurses who were addicted to pills or who had diverted drugs treated me like i was "a worse addict" because my addiction was streeet drugs. Should i just claim opiate addiction when i am with nurse addicts. I can tell the truth in NA without being outcast- are all advocacy groups like that. Am I the only nurse heroin addict out there? I just want to keep staying sober. Any advice?

[jackstem]

I actually had a similar situation. I did have a problem with pain meds, surrendered my license and became addicted to heroin. I tell NO-ONE anymore. I attempted to join the peer assistance program in my state and they rejected me for being on Suboxone even though the board said I could get my license back. In NA I am accepted. Amongst my fellow nurses I am "street trash". I felt bad enough for the mistakes I have made and to have my peers reject me made it even worse. I now lie and say that I have a problem with "pills" as not to be judged. Believe me I judge myself enough everyday. I hope everything works out for you. And thanks for letting me get that out :) ..... FINALLY

If we ever hope to have a chance of turning this around the profession has got to become educated about the DISEASE of chemical dependence. There has been tons of research done and we have an increasing level of understanding about the pathophysiology of the disease and also how this pathophysiology alters thinking, memory, and motivational hierarchy leading to the predictable signs and symptoms of the disease.

You are not a bad person trying to become good. You have a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease and you're trying to get well and stay well. Sadly, too many in the nursing profession don't get it.

Hang in there!!!!!

:hug:

Jack

[jnks]

Thank you for posting. I have a vey similar story. I used lots of street drugs, got clean in NA and became a nurse. After I relapsed was when I started using IV. I was primarily a heroin addict, but also shot meth coke and lots of dilaudid. I am open about my story with others in AA/NA, but not with my diversion program. I said my drug of choice was alcohol and I abused Rx drugs as well. That is true, just not the whole truth. I share about alcohol and "using other drugs" in a general way in my nurse group. Almost all are there for ETOH or Rx drugs, and 2 for meth. I think a lot of them wouldn't judge me, but I've found many times that people react differently to IV drug users and ESPECIALLY heroin addicts. I am more open about the dirty details with those I feel safe with. The hypocricy of it infuriates me though. A drug is a drug is a drug. People addicted to oxy, fentanyl, dilaudid, etc are no better than those addicted to heroin.