Cosmetic surgery and history of recreational drug use

[Ohleeleepoo]

Not sure if this thread belongs in this topic, but here it goes. So long story short, I used to smoke pot recreationally. I got accepted into pharmacy school and then failed a drug test for thc halfway through. The final cut off was 0.15 ng and mine had tested at 0.33. Anyway, like doctors who have a probation, we have a program for pharmacists. The school had me sign up because they saw it as a "disease" rather than an ethical issue. The program had me evaluated by an addiction specialist and was deemed not an actual addict. But since pot is still illegal I still had to do this program and be randomly drug screened, etc. This is a mostly confidential program. I like to pretend this never happened because it's embarrassing and I have to be on it for 2.5 more years. So, here is the issue. Anytime i need medical care and a prescription for a narcotic I have to disclose this and I have a hard time explaining. Just recently I elected to undergo vaser liposuction, but failed to indicate that I had a history of recreational drug use, which lying on patient history is bad and Ive become a patient that's done that, I know. The physician informed me that I would need sedation and be given percocet for the procedure. I informed him about the random drug screenings and he told me not to worry because they have progress notes to document the medical necessity. I was unable to bring up that monitoring program. I did notify the nurse that I had a form I would need signed by the physician and faxed, but still couldn't admit the full truth. I'm going to bring the form the day of preop because that's when they are writing the prescriptions. I'm not sure how to back track and explain my situation. I hate hiding that, but I worry about being labeled as an "addict" and I know I'm not. I get the same paperwork as other pharmacists in this program who entered with real addictions to opiates, cocaine, etc. The bottom of the form for the doctor states "I acknowledge the patient has informed me of their addiction issues". Again I don't want to be labeled as an addict or believed to have "addiction issues". Im also worried that it would cause the physician to alter his therapy. Maybe I'm also worried about getting judged. How should I go about it? I'm very mentally stressed about this.

 

[Deleted member 170540]

We can't give real legal or medical advice in here, but if I were in the same situation, I'd just honestly tell the physician about the program and the reason why you were put in it. I can't see why the doctor would have any reason to "be an ass" about this situation, when you're a paying customer after all. I don't know where you live, but I guess addiction problems are common enough among health professionals, that your physician probably had some friends in med school who were in a similar situation. I personally know two physicians, one of them a PhD, who had their license temporarily taken away due to benzodiazepine addiction, and I don't even work in the field myself.

 

[Ohleeleepoo]

Thanks for the reply. After thinking on it, my past doesn't affect the procedure in any way. It's just embarrassing to have to bring up anytime I need to get a prescription for narcotics. I hate talking about it. I would rather just tell the doctor about it personally over telling the nurse to pass it on to him, but obviously the nurse will end up being the one to fill out the form and fax it. This is a 5 year contract and I've been on it for 2 1/2 years. I guess I still can't get myself to come to terms about it. I try to avoid bringing it up if I can. Not that I believe weed is bad. But there's a lot of room for judgment when you're a medical professional.