Christine graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, and from the outside she seemed to be the perfect employee. She would take on extra shifts, volunteer to watch patients when other nurses needed a break and volunteered to be on the on code teams.
Christine said, “My ex-husband was a registered nurse who at times was working right beside me and had no clue that I was diverting and using.”
She hid her addiction well at the beginning, while all of her volunteering and helping her fellow nurses made Christine look like a team player, in reality it was a part of her ruse to have access to more narcotics.
Her first interaction with any substance was when she stole some of her parents beer and became intoxicated, “I remember it feeling really good … I didn’t get sick so I thought I was good at it,” Christine said, she was 10 years-old.
At 14 she began smoking Marijuana, by 18 she was smoking every day.
“My disease progressed significantly during my nursing career,” she said “It was awful to deal with on a day to day basis.”
Christine was a registry nurse, which means she moved from hospital to hospital. Being in this position gave her the perfect opportunity procure narcotics relatively undetected.
One hospital she was working at found narcotics in the bathroom, “they immediately took me to get a urinalysis to see if I was loaded, which I was.”
After being caught with drugs in her system, Christine knew that the Nursing Board in that state was on to what she was doing.
“I did what was what every great addict does, a geographical relocation to another state. I thought I could escape me, but where I went, there I was.”
Three weeks into her new nursing job in a new state, Christine was again caught being impaired on the job.
“After losing my nursing license I moved to street drugs, which meant dealing with a lot of street people.”
Christine says one of the crazies things that she experienced was driving down the I-10 freeway with three Crips in her car “(They were all) packing, caring large amounts of cocaine, high on PCP and driving 33 miles an hour.”
Her ex-husband was the first one to suggest the she go to a 12-step meeting. Christine’s first meeting was not only very emotional, but eye opening as well.
“I walked into my first 12-step meeting, sat in the back of the room and when they started the readings, I lost it.” She said “I finally figured out what I was and who I was.”
Christine said that she was extremely grateful to find out that she wasn’t just a bad person with a moral deficiency, she had a disease.
“On the other hand I was like ‘Oh shit, I’m an addict’ the dichotomy … was alarming, but there was hope,” she said.
Christine was set to go into a professional program that had random drug tests and group meetings. However, Christine didn’t surrender herself she wasn’t ready to make that commitment just yet.
“When I got clean in 2009, it really had to be me. It was my decision, no one forced me to.”
When she decided to get treatment she equated her success to it being her own choice. When she got clean her life improved dramatically.
From working through her addiction she gained many things, “I got self-acceptance, I love myself today with all of my assets and my defects.”
When she was two and a half years clean, at the age of 41, Christina got pregnant. She now has a healthy 3 year-old girl, and is engaged to another recovering addict who is also 6 years clean.
After she had been clean for five years Christine was able to get her medical license back. She is now on contract with the Arizona State Board of Nursing that requires her to be monitored, “that’s just a part of cleaning up my past, and I accept that,” Christine said.
She’s has a strong support group of friends and members of her fellowship that she can call on at any time.
Her biggest suggestion for others who are addicted to drugs or alcohol is simple “just keep coming back, some people don’t get it the first time … You never know when that miracle is going to happen.”
47 comments
A story of true courage and encouragement. One day at a time
Interesting!!! a relapse is a thing but it is more true in addiction I guess. That said, the relapse rate of opiate addicts must be known or at least considered. That way if an addiction relapses God forbid we will be better equipped to handle it.
The relapse rate for heroin addicts can be high. it will be better to have a strong support group of friends and members to fellowship with and maybe, people they can call on at any time.
The story of relapse rate for opiate addiction are so common. Relocating doesn’t make you a different person or makes you stop your addictions, all you need doing is get fact to get corrected from experts in addiction correction.
A story that can give encouragement to people having the same problem in their life. Heroin relapse rates must be properly checked because if not, this may cause some serious problems in the future.
Well done Christine, you made a very brave and right decision when taking actions and doing the necessary to clean your system and to recover your life.
I bet there´s a high opiate relapse rate, but I´m glad you were able to keep yourself clean and now you can have a kid and fiance to love and share your life with.
I believe the relapse rate for heroin addicts is getting low since help is getting to them now. But if possible leaving heroin totally is better
The opiate relapse rate is big. You can see how she struggled to get back to normal.
Great comeback for Christine. I’m so happy she got to hold onto her medical license and serve as a good role model for other users. The fact that she found a partner with similar background is really moving as well. I think when you look at the relapse rate for heroin addicts or those struggling with other substances you realize you might not be able to kick the habit on the first try, but you are definitely capable of recovery once it is set in motion. I’m glad Christine could shed some light on this and teach a valuable lesson for those with the same illness.
This heroin relapse rates is high and need attention fast. Anyone facing addiction of any type, you heal not just once but gradually because the problem didn’t get there one day.
Even though there are cases of people eventually recovering from opiate addiction, the relapse rate for opiate addiction still remains considerably high, across the world. As Christine has mentioned, it’s an ongoing process; it’s one thing to want to get off the drugs, and another to stay clean long after rehab.
My father (formerly a doctor) has dealt with such cases before. The road ahead isn’t easy, and ANYONE is susceptible to the siren call of drugs. A few cases in point even involved those who were quite religious, so preventing yourself from taking that very first heroin (or other drug) hit is key to ensuring that you experience a whole lot less heartbreak in life.
It takes a lot of willpower and courage. Whether you succumb to it or not, it’s a challenge, either way.
Interesting!! Christine Story is such an amazing one and a big thank you to her for sharing this with us.
Christine, you have taken a great step towards recovery which am glad you did. Heroin relapse rate is very high
a lot of people just like Christine look perfect on the outside but are struggling one one addiction or the other.. reading the part where she lost her nursing license made me cry..I’m glad she got clean and got her medical license back..thanks for sharing
It’s an high rate seriously which means a serious risk for the user. We shod give our all into treatment because that’s all that matters. Only the way to live again
You want a lasting solution, just keep treatment, you can’t get healed from just a meeting…it doesn’t work that way because a miracle didn’t get the addiction there. Give it time to be free totally
Access to alcohol as early as 10 years is really a killer here. More over without a strong decision and a working program, recovery is not achievable. You can travel to the Jupiter, you still find your abit there even if not worse
What a Story, addiction is really no respecter of educational status/occupational exposure. Nice comeback for Christine, she has really shown that with rugged determination and the right community. Living drug-clean is possible.
Even after she stepped into the 12 step program, she still didn’t get her healing all because she didn’t decide to recover. It takes strong will and commitment to commit into recovery
The sad thing is that she got her license confiscated by the authorities because they probably thought they she was not fit to practice as a nurse. The good thing is that she got it back and I just hope that she would never relapse back. Relapse could be disastrous for many people who try to battle addiction.
This is a very pathetic story. Christine thought she could live a false life with her addiction but what she did not know was that it always hunt back. Glad she discovered herself through the 12 step program.
This is really valuable get back your medical license and job back after long time recovery, Good bless you
Addictions to these drugs are just detrimental. They never end well and as it stands, just anyone can be a victim. If a nurse can go through this, virtually anyone can. Glad she’s better now though.
Christin your message to fellow addicts is apt. The need to continue going for the program their miracle might just be on the way and that’s the truth
The relapse sometimes might become worse than when the addict started. So it will be helpful for the victim to have a solid support group to pull them up from there
Christine tried to live a fake life with her addiction. She thought she could hide it from the world but it was have negative consequences on reputation. Glad she took the path to recovery.
It should be understood how substances ruin a career you have tirelessly build with years. You get to ruin it and realize when things are at the worst.
She was very addicted early on in her life. Great that she recovered from that addiction.
What an amazing story of recovery, thank God Christine knew she needed help and was ready to be sober from heroine addiction. Detox to rehab thank you for sharing this wonderful story of recovery.
I bet there´s a high opiate relapse rate, but I´m glad you were able to keep yourself clean . Addictions to these drugs are just detrimental. They never end well and as it stands, just anyone can be a victim. This is a very pathetic story. Christine thought she could live a false life with her addiction but what she did not know was that it always hunt back. I’m glad she got clean and got her medical license back..thanks for sharing
It makes me realize that addiction can happened to anyone. Including to those who suppose to inform you on the effect of addiction.
It is a good thing that Christine was revived totally, however I think the right choice has to be determined which will prevent reoccurrence of the addict act. Congratulations. I am happy seeing you back
This is an emotional and inspiring story. She thought she could hide her addiction but it was not easy but am happy that she was able to find recovery and got her life back.
There’s high rate of opiate relapse nowadays but treatment is crucially important. Detox should swing into action towards tackling the amazing rate.The earlier the better.
So happy for your great recovery. Addiction took everything away. Staying clean brought everything back. So happy for you for the total turn around, new husband, baby, nursing license. This is great to know.
I really learnt a lot from this, most addicted persons never even get to know they are addicted until they get enlightened which is then intern makes them realise the need to be saved. Enjoy your found life Christine
The relapse rate for opiate addiction is high. As a result, this calls for joint effort towards minimizing the rate for a healthy living.
Well done Christine for taking this bold step.
Well done Christine for taking this bold step… Action with words works.
Christine did take a lot of risk, especially putting her nursing license on the line. Glad she retraced her steps. Wishing her all the best.
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people who are addicted with something and try to recover from that.
It’s no secrete even the nurses and doctors do smoke after preaching about addiction problem. Christine is one of the nurse that indulge into addiction, and suffered the wrath of addiction. If not for the 12 step program, she could’ve been affected very badly.
Who would have thought a nurse can give in to substance abuse? This goes to show that addiction can affect anyone. Glad she went on to the 12 steps program, and now getting her life back together.
What a story! The relapse rate is really something, her story is really scary but it shows alot of courage and strength.
No hidden place for addictions. Thanks for the total recovery. What an educative information.
Stop abusing opiate. Excess of everything is very bad in taking self medication most especially. Thank you for sharing this