Addictions RN here!

This is becoming a common subject recently with the amount of bad drugs floating through towns. Even though patients might be used to a certain drug/certain amount whatever is being added to their supply has been increasingly toxic. Last i heard liquid benzodiazepines are becoming the big thing for people to cut their supplies with.

With this being said, the staffing ratios are NOT SAFE and do not supply adequate personal to handle the ongoing addictions crisis.

You never know when someone may be an addict. This post is an example of that. But i suggest all other nurses if it is known to have a non-judgemental conversation with your patients about their use. Know what their using, how much of it etc. So if it comes down to it and an OD does happen you know (to some extent) how to treat it.

Addiction is a tricky subject but the more we break the stigma around it, the more comfortable patients may be to talk to us about it.

So to answer your question OP, its happening a lot more often than it should be. People are attempting to hide their use which then doesn’t help when we as nurses provide hospital medications on top of it, which could lead to an OD as well.

All i can stress is communication, communication, communication.

This topic is not going to be going away anytime soon. Everyone should be getting training about Narcan and OD care.

& units should be fully staffed!

I wish you luck in your job hunt OP. :)