Substance Abuse Affects Everyone

I recently attended the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program quarterly provider meeting. This was an opportunity where people who serve nurses with substance abuse issues can get together. Representing and being an advocate for nurses, I attended the session which included the Executive Director of the Indiana State Board of Nursing, the President of the Indiana State Board of Nurses and deputy Indiana Attorney Generals who file claims against nurses who are accused of substance abuse.

The meeting was very eye-opening for me. It started with a CRNA who had a substance abuse issue and described how long he was able to conceal his addiction which he analogized to the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” That film chronicled the life of Frank Abagnale, Jr., an expert check forger who, once he was caught, helped the FBI catch other forgers.

The CRNA admitted to participating in a year of ISNAP and used the entire time. However, it soon caught up with him and he was back in for another round of ISNAP. During that time, he realized he could no longer get away with his deception, wanted help and got the treatment that he so badly needed. This CRNA later opened a treatment center in northern Indiana called Parkdale and works with ISNAP to help tighten up their monitoring so that people with substance abuse problems cannot skirt the system.

The next speaker on the program was a registered nurse whose daughter also was an R.N. who died of an overdose at the age of 26. At the time, the daughter was in a relationship with another nurse who also had a substance abuse issue. Being a single mother, the speaker’s daughter left behind a five-year-old son.

This story hit hard because a beautiful young woman died because she did not get the help that she so badly needed. Her passing left her mother feeling heartbroken because she did not then see the signs that later became revealed in retrospect and failed to intervene at the time. The young woman’s coworkers were ashamed that they too failed to notice the signs.

About 10% of nurses abuse substances. At least in Indiana, the Nurse Practice Act requires that if you are a nurse and you suspect a coworker of being impaired or incompetent, you must report them. This is an affirmative duty. Your employer does not have to report them, but a nurse does. Here are the warning signs.

Keep in mind that if you ever have concerns about a coworker, tell your supervisor and let them handle the situation. I would hate to hear of another nurse dying of substance abuse when help is readily available. I know nurses are afraid to go into a peer assistance program because they don’t want their employer to know. If you know of someone who is hesitant to go into a peer assistance program, just share this story with them. Maybe it will make a difference.

If we can save one nurse’s life, we’ve done our job.

I would love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment.