My girlfriend is a pharmacist and works with several ladies. Well last night she called me and said this girl she has worked with for 3 years didn't show for work Saturday morning. Well the lady's sister went to her home and found the sister on the floor totally out of it. She called 911 and they did blood work. Guess what was in her system? HIGH amounts of Lortab,Morphine and Valium. She told the doctor's it was because she had been making trokeys-sp? That's when they compound medications. Anyway she has not been compounding anything. Plus they don't compund the lortab or valium anyway. She pulled this last summer but was compunding morphine at the time and it is possible if you hold it in your hand for a few minutes and do not wash them, it could get into your system. So last summer nothing was said although she passed out on another employee and 911 was called then to..Plus morphine was in her system then. My girlfriend has been in denial and trying to think of other ways this could have happened to her. I was talking to her for 2 hours last night telling her that her friend was a druggie and to face it. She is an addict and that's the bottom line.
So today the lady was to come into work and face the music. She was telling her she was suspended until further evaluation.Now she doesn't know if she should press charges and have the police check her house.. You know the lady has been stealing BIG bottles of these medications.What do you guys think? She is calling me tonight to fill me in on what happened today! Rae
Hey Rae, your pharmacist friend sounds like a compassionate person. If I were her, I'd offer my employee the option of going for treatment, then I wouldn't call in the authorities. Of course, I'm sympathetic I guess as an addict myself. I can't imagine working with that kind of temptation. Suffice to say I wouldn't be in recovery, that's for sure. I'm not even sure if she has the legal option not to report it, but if she did, seems like it would be kind. I think everyone deserves a chance. Love, Kat
Hey Kat the thing is there is another Pharmacist in that store that owns the place and the decision will be up to him as well. I say go easy on her cause we all know the hell she is about to go through with the withdrawl. Then on top of that it is a small town and the lady is losing her job etc. My girlfriend and I grew up together. She lives in Florida but like 6 hours from me. We talk all the time and I feel so bad for her. She just couldn't believe that her friend she has worked side by side for this long with has been stealing. She just can't get over the fact that she has been using. I was telling her all the signs and looking back the lady has been moody. She is real speedy somedays and others lazy. Just a lot of ups and downs. My friend is just really upset over all this and feels betrayed. By the end of our conversations we were trying to guess if the lady would show up today to work, only to be sent home. I was saying" hell no I wouldn't come in. My a$$ would be on the first flight out of town,LOLThen my friend was saying I think she'll come in cause if she's on drugs she won't know any better,LOL so I had her laughing a little. I can't wait to see what happened today!Rae
I really like Kat's suggestion. I think I would do it that way too. Give her an opportunity to get help. But yeah, don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that she is an addict.
Funny you said that Liz, those were my exact words. Only an addict could see that coming from a mile a way. My friend is just a little nieve. I say she gets treatment for her addiction although my friend wants her house searched. The bottles of valium come in 500 count, the lortab in 1000 count and the 60 mg morphine in 100 count bottles. You know she has a serious stash going on~ For real! She is going to have one hell of a time and I do feel bad for her. I can't imagaine that withdrawl. Rae
Yeah Rae,
Sounds like she's been having herself one hell of a party. Sounds like if she doesn't get help soon she will be dead. Can't go on like that forever. I hope she gets caught, just so she's forced to get help.
Love,
Liz
Sounds like she's been having herself one hell of a party. Sounds like if she doesn't get help soon she will be dead. Can't go on like that forever. I hope she gets caught, just so she's forced to get help.
Love,
Liz
Yes one hell of a party is one way to put it. She's already busted anyway you look at it. Her sister called the pharamacy and asked if she had been getting a script for lortab,valium or morphine and my girlfriend said NO. Looked up the lady's profile and she has no been prescribed any of that. The sister said well it was in her blood and my friend said oh really,so yeah she's cold busted. Wheather she gets treatment or not time will tell. I will let ya know what happened tonight after I talk to my friend. Rae
Dear Rae,
I concur with Kat and Liz, insofar as treatment is concerned for the employee. However, the pharmacy has to write down each controlled substance that leaves the pharmacy. For example, if the pharmacist-in-charge ordered 1 bottle (500 tablets) of 30mg morphine sulfate tablets, then the pharmacist needs to makes sure that those 500 tablets are eventually either dispensed, via prescriptions, or still in the original stock bottle. Therefore, if the employee (friend) took a few tablets, the pharmacist's count will be short. If it's short, I would presume it needs to be reported to state and/or federal authoritites. Could you imagine the consequences of a DEA Inspector doing a spot check? Notwithstanding the fact that the employee may have taken controlled substances, I think she definitely needs to be in a treatment program.
That reporting could, in an ideal situation, lead to legal problems for the employee. If it is not reported, the pharmacist(s) could be asking for legal problems of their own.
I hope the employee does obtain treatment for her problems with addiction. This is a tough situation for all, to say the least.
Here's hoping that all works out for the people in this terrible situation. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ben
I concur with Kat and Liz, insofar as treatment is concerned for the employee. However, the pharmacy has to write down each controlled substance that leaves the pharmacy. For example, if the pharmacist-in-charge ordered 1 bottle (500 tablets) of 30mg morphine sulfate tablets, then the pharmacist needs to makes sure that those 500 tablets are eventually either dispensed, via prescriptions, or still in the original stock bottle. Therefore, if the employee (friend) took a few tablets, the pharmacist's count will be short. If it's short, I would presume it needs to be reported to state and/or federal authoritites. Could you imagine the consequences of a DEA Inspector doing a spot check? Notwithstanding the fact that the employee may have taken controlled substances, I think she definitely needs to be in a treatment program.
That reporting could, in an ideal situation, lead to legal problems for the employee. If it is not reported, the pharmacist(s) could be asking for legal problems of their own.
I hope the employee does obtain treatment for her problems with addiction. This is a tough situation for all, to say the least.
Here's hoping that all works out for the people in this terrible situation. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ben
I am gona echo what bender said. But I bet she won't be working in a pharmacy anymore...
kerry
kerry
Hey Ben
You know I asked all kind of questions about that. My friend says that the lady was in charge up until 1 month ago of all the ordering and paperwork. This isn't walgreen's or a huge store but does a lot of business a day. My friend said that the is no way to trace what the lady stole at this point because she was in charge of the ordering etc and the lortab and valium isn't locked. The lady had a key to open and close the pharmacy as well. She was just given to much trust, I guess. My friend is going to be drug testing her employee's from this point. I think they will turn the lady over to the police because they have no choice. What a horrible situation for all. Rae
You know I asked all kind of questions about that. My friend says that the lady was in charge up until 1 month ago of all the ordering and paperwork. This isn't walgreen's or a huge store but does a lot of business a day. My friend said that the is no way to trace what the lady stole at this point because she was in charge of the ordering etc and the lortab and valium isn't locked. The lady had a key to open and close the pharmacy as well. She was just given to much trust, I guess. My friend is going to be drug testing her employee's from this point. I think they will turn the lady over to the police because they have no choice. What a horrible situation for all. Rae
Kerry,
I am sure her pharmacy days are over. The Party has come to an end. The sad part is she probably has no clue what she is getting ready to go through. All good things must come to an end. We can all relate to that. Rae
I am sure her pharmacy days are over. The Party has come to an end. The sad part is she probably has no clue what she is getting ready to go through. All good things must come to an end. We can all relate to that. Rae
Rae, my friend is a pharmacist and the same thing happened with one of his employees. They fired him and he went to treatment so they didnt prosecute.
JD
JD
Hey JohnDee,
How are you this evening? I don't know what is going to happen to her. I am just glad it isn't me. Although I would have no business working in a pharmacy anyway,LOL at least I acknowlegde this, right? Can you imagine being an addict and wanting to work in a pharmacy just to steal there meds? I could never be that far gone at least I pray I wouldn't. I know some people have stolen from family, friends and emloyment to get their DOC but not me. I would have sucked up the withdrawls first. I know myself and stealing isn't and would never be an option. Rae
How are you this evening? I don't know what is going to happen to her. I am just glad it isn't me. Although I would have no business working in a pharmacy anyway,LOL at least I acknowlegde this, right? Can you imagine being an addict and wanting to work in a pharmacy just to steal there meds? I could never be that far gone at least I pray I wouldn't. I know some people have stolen from family, friends and emloyment to get their DOC but not me. I would have sucked up the withdrawls first. I know myself and stealing isn't and would never be an option. Rae
Im doing good Rae, and you?
Didnt we have someone on the board that was a pharmacist?
JD
Didnt we have someone on the board that was a pharmacist?
JD
Dear Rae,
I'm sure, as Kerry said, her days as a pharmacy employee are over. I hope she has some kind of notion of what lays ahead.
I'm going to veer of on a tangent for just a paragraph or two.
I watched an amazing program, on MSNBC, about a State that is utilizing a "drug court" to its full advantage. In many drug courts around the country, we see the common adversarial role play out: the State's Attorney v. Defense Counsel or, in most cases, Public Defenders. However, (I can't remember the State that was used as an example) this State used the prosecution and defense as a team in their drug court, with amazing results. The defendant would come before the judge/magistrate, and the judge would, in these cases, offer the defendant a treatment program. The person would go into treatment and, if the person attended all of the programs and was not sanctioned (for example, missing a scheduled program), then the judge would dismiss the charge(s). This is a win-win situation for all. The defendant gets the much needed treatment, there is no trial or plea bargains, the court's docket is shortened and available for more serious offenses, the defendant doesn't have to serve anytime in jail/prison, and, for those concerned about "the amount of taxes that are paid for prisoners...", the amount is a tiny percentage of what would be paid if a person would be sentenced to a year+ in prison.
I wanted to describe this because our judicial system, though slow now, is catching up with society's values. We need to stop warehousing inmates, and start treating them. Especially drug offenders. Courts are beginning to understand that many people can be rehabilitated. As Justice BRENNAN said, in his 1976 dissenting opinion in Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153: "'I emphasize only that foremost among the "moral concepts" recognized in our cases...is the primary moral principle that the State, even as it punishes, must treat its citizens in a manner consistent with their intrinsic worth as human beings - a punishment must not be so severe as to be degrading to human dignity.'" Justice BRENNAN always knew that this was the "right" thing to do. Right according to the standard of law, as he interpreted it, right according to his principles and those of his colleague, Justice Thurgood MARSHALL.
My hope is that your friend's employee (or former) gets the treatment she needs, and that the pharmacy owner does drug test his/her employees before allowing them to work, let alone order and have access to controlled substances.
Sorry about the tangent, Rae. Somehow, I knew that you'd asked the questions I posed in my previous post - LOL. You are so thorough.
Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your friend, and the employee-in-question.
Warm Regards,
Ben
I'm sure, as Kerry said, her days as a pharmacy employee are over. I hope she has some kind of notion of what lays ahead.
I'm going to veer of on a tangent for just a paragraph or two.
I watched an amazing program, on MSNBC, about a State that is utilizing a "drug court" to its full advantage. In many drug courts around the country, we see the common adversarial role play out: the State's Attorney v. Defense Counsel or, in most cases, Public Defenders. However, (I can't remember the State that was used as an example) this State used the prosecution and defense as a team in their drug court, with amazing results. The defendant would come before the judge/magistrate, and the judge would, in these cases, offer the defendant a treatment program. The person would go into treatment and, if the person attended all of the programs and was not sanctioned (for example, missing a scheduled program), then the judge would dismiss the charge(s). This is a win-win situation for all. The defendant gets the much needed treatment, there is no trial or plea bargains, the court's docket is shortened and available for more serious offenses, the defendant doesn't have to serve anytime in jail/prison, and, for those concerned about "the amount of taxes that are paid for prisoners...", the amount is a tiny percentage of what would be paid if a person would be sentenced to a year+ in prison.
I wanted to describe this because our judicial system, though slow now, is catching up with society's values. We need to stop warehousing inmates, and start treating them. Especially drug offenders. Courts are beginning to understand that many people can be rehabilitated. As Justice BRENNAN said, in his 1976 dissenting opinion in Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153: "'I emphasize only that foremost among the "moral concepts" recognized in our cases...is the primary moral principle that the State, even as it punishes, must treat its citizens in a manner consistent with their intrinsic worth as human beings - a punishment must not be so severe as to be degrading to human dignity.'" Justice BRENNAN always knew that this was the "right" thing to do. Right according to the standard of law, as he interpreted it, right according to his principles and those of his colleague, Justice Thurgood MARSHALL.
My hope is that your friend's employee (or former) gets the treatment she needs, and that the pharmacy owner does drug test his/her employees before allowing them to work, let alone order and have access to controlled substances.
Sorry about the tangent, Rae. Somehow, I knew that you'd asked the questions I posed in my previous post - LOL. You are so thorough.
Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your friend, and the employee-in-question.
Warm Regards,
Ben
oh man rae, what a horrible situation that womans in...i wonder what came first the job or the addiction...
i hope she gets help. will her family help her? maybe the only way she'll get help is to turn her in...although i'd hate for that to happen. w/d's and legal problems...ugh! keep us posted!
san-
i hope she gets help. will her family help her? maybe the only way she'll get help is to turn her in...although i'd hate for that to happen. w/d's and legal problems...ugh! keep us posted!
san-
I wondered the exact same thing. Maybe if she went into rehab it would all go better for her with the authorities. Another prayer goes out for those still suffering. Love, Kat
Gossip,Gossip!
The lady went to work yesturday not even thinking she was busted. So the one pharmacist that was there told the lady to walk next door to her doctor's office with him. The ER had sent her records over there. They asked her how everything got in her system and she admitted to taking the pills but guess where she got them??? The internet! Now why didn't we all think of that?? It never even crossed my mind. Anyway she said she was in pain due to female problems and that she was addicted etc. So the pharmacist that owns the place put her on a probation. She had to trun over her keys and get get checked when she got to work and when she leaves for work. She begged for her job and they felt bad for her. She is showing them receipts today that she got them on the internet. The one thing my friend was worried about is when you order Morphine over the internet don't you need a DEA # from a doctor or pharmacist in order to do that? Well that thought never crossed the other pharmacist's mind and my friend doesn't want to get her in further trouble. What do youguys think? Has anyone ever tried to order a class 2 on the internet? Rae
The lady went to work yesturday not even thinking she was busted. So the one pharmacist that was there told the lady to walk next door to her doctor's office with him. The ER had sent her records over there. They asked her how everything got in her system and she admitted to taking the pills but guess where she got them??? The internet! Now why didn't we all think of that?? It never even crossed my mind. Anyway she said she was in pain due to female problems and that she was addicted etc. So the pharmacist that owns the place put her on a probation. She had to trun over her keys and get get checked when she got to work and when she leaves for work. She begged for her job and they felt bad for her. She is showing them receipts today that she got them on the internet. The one thing my friend was worried about is when you order Morphine over the internet don't you need a DEA # from a doctor or pharmacist in order to do that? Well that thought never crossed the other pharmacist's mind and my friend doesn't want to get her in further trouble. What do youguys think? Has anyone ever tried to order a class 2 on the internet? Rae
Having frequented many OP sites, I have never seen one that sold morphine Rae. Doesn't mean they aren't out there, though. It will be interesting if she can produce a receipt.
Your right Carol. I guess the one pharmacist was kind of taking her word for it and really wasn't making her bring in proof. So we'll see if she does. My girlfriend says the worse part now is she has to be the one to search the lady and she can't be trusted anywhere in the pharmacy alone. I seriously don't think you can order a Class 2 on the internet without a doctor's DEA # or a pharmacists # so I think she did take it and use it. The thing that gets me is she says she doesn't have a problem.Yeah right! She still needs help or rehab. I would make that mandatory for her to work there. They are setting this woman up for a hard fall now! Rae
