License Laws

7 years ago I was prescribed a narcotic pain medication for severe migrains. At the time I was in my last year of nursing school (LPN certification). I was awarded almost a full scholarship to the LPN program, purely based on my grade point average. I graduated top of my class, and was given 3 awards for various achievements at my graduation ceremony. I had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and it was finally coming true. I got a job working in a nursing home/long term care facility 7am-3pm, I loved working with the elderly, and was proud to be a nurse. As I continued taking these pain meds over the years following the original prescription, I realized I had become physically addicted to them. When I didn’t have them, I felt physically ill. My tolerance had increased, and I started taking more than prescribed. So, I would run out of them before it was time to renew my prescription. When this would happen, I would scramble, and try to find another doctor to write a prescription for me. Before I knew it, I had 3 different doctors prescribing them to me. Over this period of time, my husband was laid off from his job, and we struggled to pay our mortgage, on top of every other bill we had. This caused a major strain in our relationship. I found myself taking more and more of my medication to numb the pain of our struggles. Then to top it off I found out my husband had cheated on me 3 times over our 7 year marriage. My life was crumbling around me. We eventually foreclosed on our house, and separated. Needless to say, I went into a deep depression. I just took more and more of these pills to try to forget it all. During all of this my hours at the nursing home, got switched to the 11pm-7am overnight shift. Once again I found myself out of my medication. That same night at work, I was required to waste a narcotic. Which should be done in the presence of two nurses and signed off together. But on this shift, there were only two of us on the unit, and the other nurse was busy, so I went to waste this drug by myself. But when I went to do it, I was feeling horrible withdrawl at the time, and I knew this medication (to be wasted and thrown away), would make me feel 100% better. So, I decided to take the medication, and still document that it had been wasted.. In the days following, I guess I realized how easy it was. So I began to deliberately create scenarios in which narcotics needed to be wasted, or somehow miss counted. Now as I look back on this situation, it felt like I was on auto pilot. Almost a dream like state. I couldn’t even remember how many times this had happened. Well, I eventually got confronted by the director of nursing. They had been watching me all along, and knew everything. Of course I tried to deny it, but it was obvious that I had done this. I was fired immediately. I was arrested and charged with 11 felony counts of theft of a controlled substance. I was also reported to the board of nursing, and they suspended my license for 5 years. Luckily the judge gave me the option of completing drug diversion, and if done successfully, they would drop all criminal charges. When all of this happened, I notified my physicians about my addiction, and finally detoxed off all medications. I have since turned my life around, and have been completely clean since. No drugs, no drinking, nothing at all. I completed the program, and started to attend weekly therapy and 12 step meetings. I have one year remaining in my suspension. I go in front of the nursing board in november 2011. I would like to be reinstated, and try working in a drug rehab of some kind. So, in conclusion of this long dramatic story, I want to ask if any one else has experienced a similar situation? And if so, did they get their license reinstated? When going in front of the board, do I need a lawyer? And any other advise you can offer. Thanks for listening.