As a pharmacist, your job could involve everything from reviewing a patient’s medical records to ensure there won’t be a drug interaction when you fill a prescription to compounding medication yourself. Pharmacists hold the position of trust within their community because they play a role in medical care and have access to controlled substances that may pose a risk to society.
Unfortunately, pharmacists, like other professionals, could potentially find themselves struggling with addiction because of factors outside of their job. Unlike other professionals, a pharmacist’s career could feed into a serious chemical dependence and come to an abrupt halt because of addiction.
If you are a licensed pharmacist facing addiction-related claims by an employer or criminal charges related to drug use, you may soon need to defend your professional licensing to protect your profession. If you have already lost or resigned from your job because of previous addiction issues that have since been treated, you may need to start building a strategy to secure the reinstatement of your professional license.
Treatments can go a long way to establish your recovery
The state licensing board wants the people who handle controlled substances to be able to conduct themselves appropriately and act in the best interests of the community. They also want to know that the professionals they license won’t endanger themselves or others by diverting medications, diluting them, or even stealing them and replacing them with something less potent.
Addiction can make even responsible, educated adults behave in strange and even illegal ways, and pharmacists aren’t immune to becoming addicted. Getting treatment for addiction, ranging from inpatient rehabilitation services to years of outpatient counseling, could be a demonstration of your commitment to overcoming your addiction.
Completing voluntary addiction treatment can be seen as a proactive step for someone facing disciplinary measures or criminal charges. Successfully committing to substance abuse treatment can also help prove to the board your sincerity if you want to seek your license again after losing it in the past.
The right help can make a big difference for professional licensing
All of those years studying pharmacology and chemistry can go to waste if you don’t secure and retain state board licensing for your profession.
Defending your license or getting it reinstated is of the utmost importance for professionals who have struggled with addiction but are now ready to return to work as sober and compliant professionals. The right help, including someone to advocate for you and inform you of your rights, can make your path forward clearer and easier to follow.
