I'd like to hear what everyone's opinions are on this matter. I had over 6 years of sobriety and then because I stopped putting my sobriety first, I relapsed briefly. Thankfully, I came to my senses, re-established relationships with God and my sponsor and started back with meetings. I did everything the BON had taught me to do during my 5 year contract with them.
My question is would you tell the BON? Now? When it was time to renew your license? I have discussed this briefly with my sponsor but am wondering what others would do. I know that when it comes time to renew my license in a little less than 2 years, I will be faced with this decision as well since we have to do a short paragraph of why we had been disciplined in the past, a description of our program of recovery, our sobriety date, etc. Obviously, by putting down a different sobriety date, it could potentially be a red flag to the board.
There would be many repercussions to being placed on another 5 year contract. And some of them would be severe and life altering. And yes, I understand relapsing has devastating effects as well, one of which is death. I just want to know when you get right down to it, what would you do?
Not all addicts are dishonest. You are making a lot of sweeping generalizations about addiction and what it takes to stay sober.
You don't think that addiction and dishonesty are intimately related? That seems to disagree with just about every piece of literature I have ever read on the topic. Not all. But many, perhaps most, addicts have been or are dishonest, at some significant level.
You don't think that addiction and dishonesty are intimately related? That seems to disagree with just about every piece of literature I have ever read on the topic. Not all. But many, perhaps most, addicts have been or are dishonest, at some significant level.
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Can you link to academic literature stating that addicts are likely to be more dishonest than the general population?
I think it's unfortunate that addicts tend to get painted with a broad brush as being lying, egotistical, manipulative, self-centered, and incapable of insight. Individual nuances get lost in the AA/NA push to completely ignore the differences and focus on the similiarities.
On an ancdotal note, I certainly have associated with open, unrepentant alcoholics. And many of the folks that I associate with in recovery, while not cash register honest, lacked the deep denial and self-dishonesty that outsiders tell themselves addicts must have in order to justify why we do what we do.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
One of the tenets of solid recovery is rigorous honesty in all our affairs - the answer to your question lies within your own program and how you are working it. Remember you are only as sick as your secrets! Pray on it and decide what to do - your the one who has to deal with the aftermath.
It's a tough call. I am an alcoholic and an addict, but per terms of my contact I am "allowed" to drink alcohol, even with my self admittance to them that I am an alcoholic. If I went out and drank for a couple months would it be necessary for me to tell the BON that I have broken my sobriety? Even if I went back in and worked my program, was honest with my sponsor, and family?
I agree, rigorous honesty is necessary to sobriety, they go hand in hand. At the same time, where does that honesty become a necessary entity and to whom? I know I told the BON a lot, but not everything. I told my sponsor everything and took direction from her on how to proceed. I don't think there is a black and white answer here.
This issue is not simply "failing to brake completely at a stop sign" or exceeding the speed limit. The OP is talking about a full-blown relapse two months long. They entered into an agreement with the BON stating they would not use drugs of any kind. Also , please do not assume that I am judgemental toward anyone with the disease of addiction, as I am a recovering addict myself. The OP relapsed and got away with it. Without consequences, it is now easier to do it again. Have you ever heard of honesty, open- mindedness, and willingness? Being in recovery means living a better way of life. We are taught to practice honesty in all of our affairs. A relapse, no matter to what degree it occurs, impacts an addicts life.
And as far as board monitored programs being "destructive and punitive" how else would you have the patients we take care of be protected? While addiction is most definitely a disease, once we get clean, we have the power to choose whether or not to use again. The OP chose to use again, putting their patients in danger. There absolutely should be consequences for that.
Can you link to academic literature stating that addicts are likely to be more dishonest than the general population?
I think it's unfortunate that addicts tend to get painted with a broad brush as being lying, egotistical, manipulative, self-centered, and incapable of insight. Individual nuances get lost in the AA/NA push to completely ignore the differences and focus on the similiarities.
On an ancdotal note, I certainly have associated with open, unrepentant alcoholics. And many of the folks that I associate with in recovery, while not cash register honest, lacked the deep denial and self-dishonesty that outsiders tell themselves addicts must have in order to justify why we do what we do.
Addiction is intimately routed in denial and dishonesty. You can do a simple Scholar or CINAHL search and find pages of publications discussing this.
It's included in the ASAM definition of addiction.
You don't think denial/dishonesty play a role in nearly every type of addiction?
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Because your contract allows you to drink -if you drank you would not have to report it - however if yoy drank and slipped further into your drug/drugs of choice your contract which you signed I assume "Voluntarily" means you are bound by the terms of that contract. If you contract does not require you to self report relapse then you don't have too - if however they were to directly ask you if you drank and you lied you might e setting yourself up for spiritual consequences that could effect your recovery. It's often small acts of dishonesty that lead to big relapse.
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
There's a difference between honesty and sabotage and a difference between facing consequences and creating consequences to satisfy a desire to be punished. At this point if the op reported her relapse to the bon she would be complicating a situation for no reason other than for the sake of taking the moral high ground.
But then again maybe I am just a wicked and dishonest person
There's a difference between honesty and sabotage and a difference between facing consequences and creating consequences to satisfy a desire to be punished. At this point if the op reported her relapse to the bon she would be complicating a situation for no reason other than for the sake of taking the moral high ground.
But then again maybe I am just a wicked and dishonest person
My slip up was a side effect of my dishonesty with myself: it was self sabotage. Did the BON care about all of the actions that led up to the slip up? Did my workplace monitor ever pull me aside and talk with me?
No- nobody cares about relapse behavior until you take a sip of alcohol (or cross the line from treating pain to abusing medication), then suddenly you are a dishonest person....
If the addict is not allowed to have slip up without punitive consequences they will not be able to manage their disease. We can liken this to diabetes- if you are not allowed to ever have a high blood sugar how can you navigate your way through the real world?
Honesty would be that the overall trajectory is towards better health... that you are not a perfect person and will have slip ups.
I am thankful for my positive drug screen- it allowed me to retrace my steps. My unhealthy thinking pattern actually had started at least a couple of months before.
The worst thing is that I now recognize what was going on, I have tried to take steps for a healthier lifestyle and the very people that state they want to help and support me are keeping me in an unhealthy place...
I am loving this discussion y'all! It's really opening my eyes to both sides, and to the vast middle that exists. It's a good topic as I know we are all at risk for relapse.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Well said'
Even though I never drank or used while working or even before working (which to me justified my behavior) I came to realize with continued sobriety that I was in fact an Impaired Nurse and putting my patients in danger as long as I was using. That's because an actively using addict/alcoholic thought processes are not normal or rational most of the time. Yes we try to justify it but the first and most complete dishonesty comes from the lies we tell our selves. I know that I am only a drink or benzo away from relapse at any given time and I am granted a daily reprieve as long as I continue to work my program.
Once I finished my final year of monitored sobriety - I was free to do as I would - I have to admit to two one day binges on my old friend vodka which while still a relapse which I discussed and planned and went back to do 90/90 each time was far different from a 2 month relapse during which I was working and trying to care for patients.
Addicts are not bad people they are sick people who need to get well.
BostonFNP, APRN
2 Articles; 5,584 Posts
You don't think that addiction and dishonesty are intimately related? That seems to disagree with just about every piece of literature I have ever read on the topic. Not all. But many, perhaps most, addicts have been or are dishonest, at some significant level.
Sent from my iPhone.