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Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
sdm
sanjose |
Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
These questions are for everybody:
Do you know of anything in the pharmaceutical industry that
would prevent a person who was a user of meth from becoming a
pharmacist?
Would a meth addict in recovery becoming a pharmacist be like an
alcoholic in recovery becoming a bartender?
I have heard of addicts that are in recovery that have NO DESIRE
for their drug of choice. Does that also mean they have no
temptation for the drug?
Amber who was a Meth
slammer spoke at our Meth Summit meeting. Her story about her
meth life included all the terrible things that have been
described on this KCI board by other addicts. In summary, after
knocking her mother unconscious with a phone as she was on her
knees begging and praying for Amber not to leave with her dealer
to live in Mexico, Amber (age 17) was arrested and eventually
sentenced to Juvenile Drug Court.
Standing at barely 5 feet tall and weighing 75 pounds, Amber
said that she hated everybody and was planning on completing the
Drug Court so that she could get high again.
However, after 9 months of forced high school classes, cleaning
her room, keeping herself clean, and being responsible in many
other areas “I BECAME WILLING” to get into long term recovery.
After completing Juvenile Drug Court I went to NA and have been
attending ever since and have over 3 years clean and am an NA
sponsor for a young female addict named Ana.
Amber explained that you have to use the tools that you have
acquired and live life on life’s terms. Amber is now a student
at the local college and is majoring in chemistry to become a
pharmacist and was working as a Pharmacy Tech. Amber said that a
few days before her speech today her employer found out that she
was a meth addict and told her that she could no longer be
employed at the pharmacy; they told her “once an addict always
an addict”. Amber said that life gets rough after getting into
recovery sometimes but that she will remain in God’s grace and
will stay clean one day at a time. Amber concluded by stating
that “THERE IS HOPE”.
Although we had a lot of important people speaking, including
the Attorney General of Arizona, Amber got the only standing
ovation as some one yelled out loud “WE LOVE YOU AMBER”. There
were lots of wet eyes and at least one lump in the throat that I
can attest to.
Amber is currently the Vice-Chair of the County Juvenile Justice
Community Advisory Committee and has stated that she wishes to
dedicate her life to reaching out to other drug addicts exposing
them to the light that she’s found in recovery |
| Replies... |
| lax2 |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
I don't
think Id want to be a pharmacist any more than I'd want to be a
drug dealer or a bartender......unless I wanted easy access to
drugs...and I don't. |
| Reason |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Do
you know of anything in the pharmaceutical industry that would
prevent a person who was a user of meth from becoming a
pharmacist?
Aside from a criminal record, no. Since Amber was a minor during
her little spree, shouldn't be an issue.
Would a meth addict in recovery becoming a pharmacist be like
an alcoholic in recovery becoming a bartender?
Absolutely not. Pharmacology is a broad science, with fields
such as microbiology, toxicology, and physiology. While
chemistry is part of the discipline, the emphasis is studying
how drugs interact with the body, not the development
("cooking") of the drugs.
Certainly, there are other interests which are less connected
with drug use, but pharmacology shouldn't expose her
automatically with greater meth temptations.
I have heard of addicts that are in recovery that have NO
DESIRE for their drug of choice. Does that also mean they have
no temptation for the drug?
Well, by definition desire is a prerequisite for temptation...
but in my experience, such cases are rare. Addicts forever know
exactly what they enjoyed about their drug of choice. |
no more
mething
around |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
My friend's sister out in AZ was a pharmacy tech. She started
out clean. She had been a meth addict/alcoholic. Went to school,
etc.
She soon began stealing and using meds. Pain pills, ADHD
drugs...she then stole more, sold them and returned to meth.
She lost it all again.
Maybe not a good idea .... perhaps Amber is being given a big
PUSH by the man upstairs to help heal others with her words and
not with medicines.
I do, however, agree with Reason also. It is very much an
individual thing.
A person may feel no temptation on one day, itching craving over
a trigger the next. |
BentBut
Not
Broken |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
I have
heard of addicts that are in recovery that have NO DESIRE for
their drug of choice. Does that also mean they have no
temptation for the drug?
Stan, hi--I'm Dee. My answer probably won't help you, for which
I am sorry, but it will help me. That said Stan, Thanks a
million!!!
Do I DESIRE meth or ice?
Not in the least...it is nasty and my six months of use CURED me
from wanting *that* type euphoria and energy.
Do I have temptation for meth or ice?
Again, thankfully, not in the least. My temptation lies in
wanting to avoid dealing with life-events that are painful,
embarrassing, that may not agree with *others* standard
definitions (won't explain this further cos I care about not
causing hurt to others here at KCI), and in managing
disappointments that come my way.
Stan, if Amber had a college degree in chemistry or biology, she
could pursue Pharmaceutical Sales and Managing. My cousin works
for Johnson & Johnson Pharma. and is a type-A overachiever...she
is very successful and has mentored others to do above their own
goals/standards they had set. That did pop in my mind and
hopefully it may help Amber.
My prayers to her and you, |
Fly
f1sh3r |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
I know a
couple of pharmacists who are in recovery. Both are very active
in recovery.
I know a bartender who is in recovery.
We are everywhere.
I think is a personal choice. I wouldn't want to tend bars.
Drunks annoy me if I'm around them for very long.
I could handle being a pharmacist.
If someone's prone to relapse, they will relapse. It doesn't
matter if they work in a pharmacy of not. It's easy to get if
you want it.
Today I have no desire to use. When the life on life's terms
became extremely painful, the temptation to numb it happened
this year.
I used the same tools and it passed. |
| vctry7 |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Do you know of anything in the pharmaceutical industry that
would prevent a person who was a user of meth from becoming a
pharmacist?
No, I don't know much about that area. If I were an employer I
could see not wanting to hire any addict to work in my pharmacy.
I know there are people who would do a great job and never cause
any problems. But, if there was a problem and someone was high
and mixed up pills or something I would be at fault for
knowingly hiring an addict.
Would a meth addict in recovery becoming a pharmacist be
like an alcoholic in recovery becoming a bartender?
I would be scared to try it. I don't think I would have a
problem, but it's not worth the chance. I don't need that
temptation in my face everyday.
I have heard of addicts that are in recovery that have
NO DESIRE for their drug of choice. Does that also mean they
have no temptation for the drug?
My husband says he has no desire for it and is never tempted. I
have only met a few that even after years of sobriety say they
are never tempted. I think I'll always be tempted from time to
time, all that matters is what I decide to do about it. |
Jamie
J1979 |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
I know
recovering addicts that work as bartenders and have no problem,
I also know recovering addicts that work as bartenders and have
a huge problem with alcohol now instead of drugs. I feel it
depends on the individual. I don't know if I could or would work
in a bar, alcohol has never been a drug of choice for me but if
I want to escape anything will do including alcohol. So say if I
were to work in a bar and things are going great but one day I'm
having a horrible day and I want to numb myself, could I not
pick up a drink if alcohol is all around me? Right now I would
say no I couldn't abstain from not picking up a drink if it was
the only thing available at the time. I was upset a couple weeks
ago and I started craving alcohol for some reason and I never
drink. I feel I was craving alcohol because I was thinking of a
way to escape without getting caught, alcohol would be out of my
system the fastest. Alcohol is legal and I wouldn't get into a
lot of trouble if I were to test positive for alcohol, basically
if my OBGYN were to test me and I had a small amount of booze in
my system I don't think I would get into too much trouble. CPS
wouldn't be contacted or anything like that. I didn't end up
drinking but that's how my addict mind works when craving. I
look for a way to beat the system, to use something without the
negative consequences. Do I have a desire to use drugs? Most day
I do NOT have a desire to use drugs. If I do crave I am usually
able to think things through and remember the good and the bad
of using drugs instead of just remembering the good part. I'm
able to stop and think instead of just acting on a craving like
I used to. When I used to crave in the past I would just go use
immediately and feel bad later. Now I stop and think and try to
keep busy for awhile because I know the craving will go away. I
also try to find out why I'm craving, usually if I'm lacking
something like sleep, good food, exercise, something essential
to my well being basically I will experience a craving. My body
confuses a healthy craving for what I'm really lacking say I'm
really lacking sleep, instead of realizing I'm craving sleep I
think I'm craving drugs. So I try to take care of myself so that
I don't feel any cravings. This time of the year is a trigger
for me to use heroin. My past record of using revolves around a
pattern. My pattern is to usually stay clean during the summer
months and then relapse and use heavy from September through
March. So when the weather starts to get bad I start to remember
my using days and sometimes I long to get high again. I know
that this is not the answer and with the tools I've learned and
the support I now have in my life I've been able to not use. I
remember even before I was a addict I would always tend to kick
up my heels in the colder months and be a good girl during the
warmer months, weird but true. So this is a hard time of the
year for me but I will get through it. Being really active in my
recovery and taking care of myself have helped me stay clean. I
want to stay clean I know this. I'm not happy when I'm strung
out. Drugs never make it better, things only get worse. When I'm
on drugs all I want is to be off drugs so using isn't pleasant
anymore. I don't get high like I used to and if I were to use I
would be let down as usual. Sorry about the long post. Take care
guys. I'm just kind of emotional because I'm tired of being
pregnant. I'm really uncomfortable physically and I want to have
my baby NOW! |
| Penel0pe |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
As the
nurse with the keys to the narcotics cabinet, all I can say is
that the desire to stay clean keeps me clean.
I had an incident once when I was doing an inventory of a
patients personal meds, something I did without supervision.
Count the pills, write that down, and send it all off to the
pharmacy for storage - and one day, a little thought popped into
my head... "I could take these and no one would ever know."
Addict thinking in a recovering brain.
So I stopped, called my sponsor, told her "The weirdest thing
just happened!"
She replied, "Wow, you must still be an addict, what are you
going to do?"
So I finished the job and that thought was nothing more than
that - a return of "Old thinking" that I had the choice to act
on or not act on.
If a recovering addict wants to be a pharmacist, a doctor, a
nurse, or a bartender, their recovery is still their
responsibility.
I know I have seen my share of red nosed, watery eyed tipsy
bartenders in my day... and there are nurses, a pharmacist, and
an anesthesiologist in my area who are all going to the same
meetings I go to.
Any one of us could relapse at any time. Recovery is a personal
responsibility - I certainly wouldn't take the job "Meth lab
assistant" or "Cannabis Horticulturist...."
But I was a nurse before I began my recovery, so I have had to
learn to be responsible in my recovery.
I could have jacked those pills - but I didn't.
It depends on the individual, I think. |
sdm
sanjose |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
So far
it appears that the majority answered that addicts DO have
temptations to use after recovery . Those responses were to my
question below that asked:
Quote:
I have heard of addicts that are in
recovery that have NO DESIRE for their drug of choice. Does
that also mean they have no temptation for the drug?
A “NO” would meant that the addict did
have temptations
A “YES” would men that the addict DID NOT have temptations
A “RARE” would meant that the addict rarely does NOT have
temptations
A “NOT CLEAR” would mean unable to determine answer
Lax NO
SFJ NOT CLEAR
Reason RARE
Lisa NMMA RARE
BentButNotBroiken YES
FLY-Jason NO
VCTRY7 NO
Jamie1979 NO
Penelope NO
I may have misunderstood your replies so please correct me if I
am wrong.
It appears that the vast majority of addicts state that
they DO have temptations after recovery |
| lax2 |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Yes it
can still be tempting at times 4 me, but if i were a pharmacist
i would be surrounded by temptation as part of my job...
I don't have any desire for liquor at all, but that doesn't mean
I want to be around alcohol in any more capacity than
necessary.... If I sat here facing a full bar, night after
night, who knows when temptation might present itself.
I don't keep a vial of cocaine around in case I have a guest who
might want some either. But I have had the same (1) emergency
cigarette in my top drawer for 3 years in case I decide to be
stupid. I really should flush that F#@$ing cigarette. To me
having it presents an unnecessary temptation in any case. |
luve
piphany |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Pen, do
we have to worry about our teenage kids responding to ad's for
"meth lab assistant"??? Oh my, that would just give more grays
than I could stand |
| Penel0pe |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Luv -
yes, screen those job applications!
Quote:
It appears that the vast majority of
addicts state that they DO have temptations after recovery
We're addicts. Lots of people
have temptations to do lots of things - have you ever looked at
another woman since you got married? Did you go the next step
and have an affair because you looked or lusted.. or did you do
the right thing and remain faithful to your wife?
Having a thought and acting on it are two very different things.
Recovering addicts are capable of remaining faithful to their
recovery in spite of temptation... that's why for me, there is
no "After" in recovery as you stated. Recovery is a daily
process and an inside job. "After" will happen when I'm dead,
hopefully!
Just because I had this 4 second idea about medications doesn't
mean I WANTED to take the pills - it was a thought that popped
into my head out of the blue.
I did the next right thing - I called my sponsor, and finished
the job. No one would have ever known - but I would have
known... and I'm not interested into returning to active
drug use at all.
That doesn't mean my brain doesn't still have an addict inside
it doing pushups, hoping I will make a mistake. Old habits die
hard, old thinking can return without any intent to act on those
thoughts.
It isn't the random thoughts that matter in the end. It's what
we DO that really matters. By doing the next right thing, we can
stay clean.
If an addict becomes a pharmacist and decides he's going to
relapse, he's gonna do it. He's gonna relapse if he becomes a
bank teller, too.
And that is one of many reasons that recovery has to be our
first priority... so that we can get through those moments
clean. |
luve
piphany |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Pen,
please keep writing! You have been on a super insiteful and deep
writing jag lately! I noticed you were somewhat quiet for a
period of time and then one day the ole' Penelope with all of
her wisdom and stimulating and compassionate written thoughts
was back!
I miss you but I know you need the recharging time. Thanks for
you |
BentBut
Not
Broken |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Quote:
I have heard of addicts that are in recovery that have NO DESIRE
for their drug of choice. Does that also mean they have no
temptation for the drug?
NO desire & NO temptation for having a clearer head and being
able, painful and frustrating and ugly as it can be at times,.
for being able to feel and I mean really feel. I'm only
reposting for *my* benefit since two days have really sucked for
me, I just a bit ago awoke from a nightmare again, and the tally
you had looked bass ackwards to me--forgive me if I
misinterpreted how you reworded it Stan. I could have any
substance I wanted to ease those sucky days easy, free, and
fast...too freaking fast for my liking. Feeling sure inside of
me when I reposted NO desire & NO temptation is, for me, pretty
good news...but don't give me kudos please. I'm hanging on to
God tight!
I know this was not asked by you Stan...but the peer pressure
factor after age 40 question...yes, at college it could have
been a factor for me even with that first horrid experience. For
me, that's my low state of self-esteem and I think getting clean
added to it.
I am going to search for answers and find good tools to have a
healthy self-esteem for the rest of my life. Doesn't mean I
won't have bad and sucky days ahead, but it does mean maybe I
can be stronger and make smarter choices in the future |
Tender
hearts
KS |
Re: Could a meth addict become a pharmacist?
Interesting questions, Stan. I can't answer the first one for
you as I have no experience with legalities and being a
pharmacist.
I can tell you I attended an NA meeting when I first got out of
rehab called the 'Hardcore Group', mostly needle users. I do
clearly recall one of the recovering members there was indeed a
pharmacist, though I don't remember much more (that was almost
20 years ago).
I still have fleeting thoughts of using, usually when I am
excessively tired, wishing I had that extra 'boost', but it's
never more than a few seconds That's why I try real hard
to avoid HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired). Those are all
potentially dangerous for me. |
See also:
Life After Meth
How do you build a new life without Meth?
Back to Crystal Meth & Methamphetamine Questions, Answers & Advice
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