Questions about entering a rehab or drug detox?
I would like to know if I take the step toward getting of pain killers, and to an out patient program with detox or rehab if I will be able to continue to work in healthcare? I am a surgical technician student and would die if I could never be a nurse in the future.. Thanks.
Nurses are NOTORIOUS for getting hooked on things when they work in health care for a long time. Most nursing interviews don’t ask if you’ve ever been an addict. Just get treatment. It’s better to have to say "I did have a problem, but I was mature enough to ask for help when needed and got myself treatment and have been successful since then in abstaining from this." than to say later "I swear those aren’t mine, officer." You need to think about your health first and career second.
If you absolutely can’t go to rehab because of your fear, cut 0.5mg off of what you take every week until you aren’t on anything. The withdrawal will be longer, but you won’t be horrifically ill for it. Just a bit tired and feeling general malaise. Really, you can do it every 3 days because the body’s physical dependence dissipates after that long (it’s the psychological/emotional dependence that lasts longer) but people tend to be more comfortable with taking it down a step every week or even every 2 weeks. You can also go to NA (narcotics anonymous) and find support there. While you’re getting yourself off the drugs, it’s FREE counselling and support from others in the same bad place as you. It’ll let you know you’re not alone.
Rehabs are very conscious of their patients confidentiality, as are the other patients. I’m sure you can imagine why. Unless you tell someone then it’s unlikely that your future employer will ever have to know.
But like the other person said if you get busted for something drug related it’s going to stick to you like glue. Hospitals do background checks. A stay in rehab wont show up on a the criminal background check a stay in the county lockup most certainly will.
It seems pretty likely to me that you’ll have to pass a drug test if you want to be a nurse. You need to take some steps now to insure that you will have a future. Consider inpatient treatment if you can take the time. If’s effective. It’s confidential, and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel when you’re not dependent on that stuff anymore.
Do it.
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