Addiction and EMS

[princess1031]

I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a lot of drug abuse among their co-workers. My partner doesn't even bother hiding it anymore. She just goes in the back of the rig and does her thing. I heard alcoholism is high among police officers but have never heard either way if addiction is pretty common for EMTs.

[Valor55]

Sounds like some random drug testing needs to take place. There's a serious problem if people who are supposed to be on the top of their game to save lives are at the bottom of a pit.

I haven't heard about on-duty alcohol use in a long time. It's something that would result in swift action at the departments I've worked at. It's a lot less tolerated now. Of course we have random drug testing here now. I think the only problem with that is the nicotine (we signed contracts we wouldn't use it.)

[gringoscott]

Princess, your statement just scared the living crap out of me. Thanks.

[deputywave]

We recently had an EMT convicted of stealing drugs while on duty. He replaced what he took with saline. The hospital is pretty lucky no patient was ever hurt by that.

[JDS]

We recently had an EMT convicted of stealing drugs while on duty. He replaced what he took with saline. The hospital is pretty lucky no patient was ever hurt by that.

One of my old partners did the same. He was caught, he wasen't arrested, but had to go to rehab & lost his medical control to work in the area. He came back to work for a little while as a dispatcher, but unded up leaving to work construction. No temptation and twice the paycheck i guess. He did get his life back on track, he now has a family, a nice home and is still clean. Good ending to a bad story.

[Cris1102]

We recently had an EMT convicted of stealing drugs while on duty. He replaced what he took with saline. The hospital is pretty lucky no patient was ever hurt by that.

wow!!

[MDEMT280]

Any EMS provider who reports for duty while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who drinks or uses drugs on duty, is asking for an immediate suspension, pending termination. Any provider who knows of this behavior and allows it to continue without reporting it is asking for the same.

It's unfortunate that some people get to that point, but once they do, we can't just sit back and say, "oh well, they'll straighten themselves out." You don't just wake up one day and say, "I'm going to be hard-core addicted to heroin," or "I'm going to be so reliant on alcohol that I can't go an hour without a drink." You get to that point in stages. When you're showing up at a job that involves the public safety, and you're drunk or high, you're probably past the point where a stern talking-to will do you any good. It's time to get out of that environment, away from public safety and public trust positions, and into a treatment program.

[princess1031]

Any EMS provider who reports for duty while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who drinks or uses drugs on duty, is asking for an immediate suspension, pending termination. Any provider who knows of this behavior and allows it to continue without reporting it is asking for the same.

I know I should report her but we've been friends for so long, longer than we've been on the rig together. And what exactly would I tell my supervisor? She really isn't making a lot of mistakes or anything. Kind of a tough situation. I wish she would check into rehab on her own but I really don't think she wants to stop.

[Signal9]

[B] She really isn't making a lot of mistakes or anything.

I'm not an emt and not in your shoes so I won't judge but... thats not a statement that any family whose loved one is riding in the back of your vehicle would find reassuring.

Not to mention that you might be held legally accountable if you don't say anything and something goes wrong that you could have prevented by speaking up. What kind of friend puts you in that situation to begin with?

[MDEMT280]

And what exactly would I tell my supervisor?

You tell your supervisor the truth.

"I believe that Jane is under the influence of illegal drugs," or whatever the case may be. Articulate your concerns clearly, and without mincing words. You need to make it as clear as a bell to your supervisor that there is an employee who is unfit for duty. Put it in writing, too. Start leaving a paper trail.

As in many fields, there are some things you try to work out without taking it up the chain of command. In my opinion, this is not one of them. EMS is a public safety agency. A provider who is under the influence is downright dangerous.

She really isn't making a lot of mistakes or anything.

A lot of mistakes? We all goof sometimes, but if she makes even one mistake because she is intoxicated or high, that is one too many.

You said it yourself: you don't think she wants to stop. If she won't stop on her own, then someone has to stop her.

It's not a matter of "if," it's a matter of "when." She will make a mistake, and it will cause injury or death to a patient, or to someone else. It may even be you she takes out. Are you actually saying you ride down the road in an emergency vehicle, lights and sirens, with someone under the influence of illegal drugs at the wheel? Forget the patients for the briefest second here, she could kill you the next time you roll out the door on a call.

I wish I could tell you to click your heels three times, and it would all magically get better, but I can't do that. It sucks. I know. Trust me. Your partner needs your help, so that she can recover from this. The public is trusting you to help them in their times of need. Report her.

[topofthecop]

Have you tried a confrontation/intervention will colleages ie. LEOs? Maybe write her up and present it to her and tell her if she isnt checked in by the end of the day you go to her supervisor. Period. She is your friend and she is in trouble. She needs your help before something even worse happens. Something permanent.

[princess1031]

Just an update. My partner went in the back of the rig to use the other day, just like normal, and I flat out asked her if she wanted to go to treatment. I had a list of rehabs that were coverd by our insurance and I was willing to take her. She said no, she was at the top of her game. So I did what I knew had to be done. I went to my supervisor and told him what was going on. I feel like a POS. She was suspended after failing a UA and will most likely be terminated from our agency. She hasn't spoken to me since. I think she knows it was me that reported her even though my supervisor did not disclose who came to him with the information. Thanks for all your suggestions. I hope I made the right descision.

[MDEMT280]

I hope I made the right descision.

You did.

You've already made the streets just a little bit safer, and hopefully your partner will be able to get the help that she needs.

I've lost good friends because I made difficult decisions to turn them in or call them out. It is a horrible feeling to sit and think about what you've done, but if you step back from everything for a second and consider the alternatives, you will find that you made the only logical decision. Hopefully your partner will realize that, too.

[Cat_Doc]

I hope I made the right descision.

You absolutely made the right decision, no doubt about it. Your job is to try your very best to save human life.

Permitting a partner to continue in such a noble and important job...whose decision making and motor skills are influenced by altering substances...would actually be a criminal act.

Friendship be damned when it comes to being on top of the game attempting to save a human life.

Kudos on your integrity.

[gringoscott]

I hope I made the right descision.

You did. I live in the same general area as you. It gives me peace of mind to know that if I get hurt and your rig gets the call, both people charged with helping me are going to be sober.

So thanks princess.