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school

not sure if this belongs here but a few years ago i was in school and because of my pill usage i ended up dropping out after 3 semesters. i have always wanted to go back but never did because i kept using pills. i always thought i could do anything taking pills but only accomplished NOTHING.
Now here is the deal, i was studying to be a pharmacy tech. they called me this morning and wanted to know if i was interested in finishing school. well i really am and i hope to stay clean this time. i am 8 days clean as of today. i am thinking maybe if i go back to school this will help my depression and give me something to look forward to.
do you all think this is a good thing to be around. once i graduate and get a job well you all know what i will be around. i cant really imagine being tempted. because i would think getting caught stealing from a pharmacy one would be facing jail time and i certainly dont want to go that route.
any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
6 Responses
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4204073 tn?1361831476
First of all, congrats on 8 days clean!   Second, I have concerns about going into pharmaceutical work.   Not only because of the trigger for your DOC, but also because I am the voice of experience in telling you how easy it is to substitute one drug for another.  That, and I would have a difficult time filling prescriptions for people knowing what they did to me and what it could be doing to others as well.   I guess I'd liken it to an alcoholic being a bar tender.  I think it's something that would take years of clean time before one could possibly put themselves in that situation.  Perhaps having been on the other side of the pharmacist, you might better serve others with your experiences?  Just a thought.   Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.  
Helpful - 0
1416133 tn?1351123217
I couldn't agree more with the above posters.  dede, it's still early, and you have time to think about what you want to do for the rest of your life.  I know you're anxious to get started and want something to look forward to, but for now, please just stay focused on your recovery.

When you're feeling better, and stronger, you can re-address your thoughts about school.  Hang in there - and congrats on the 8 days from me too!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I started back to school after about 30 days clean. It's been good for me, but I'm studying recovery for the next few years. I'm returning to school from 1998, when I dropped out. I agree with Happy, really consider your coarse of study. I had been thinking doctor before, but decided rehab suites my experience and needs more, though the pay is 1/10 at best. I had isolated myself in active addiction and school has helped me fit back into society and given me hope and goals. It was really hard at first, I didn't even want to look people in the eye. It's been 90 some days since my last sub dose, and it's getting easier. Congrats on day 8.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hey dede.....now everyone is different but I personally could never work at a pharmacy ...with that said if its in your heart to do it then go for it... if it where me I would go to school for something else with a lot less risk of relapse but thats just me if your recovery comes first you should be fine at what ever you do but I know my limits think this out carefully.......Gnarly  
Helpful - 0
1697690 tn?1329123638
Hey, i love that line "I always thought i could do anything on pills but always accomplished nothing." SOOOO true.

In response to your post, if I were you, and this is just my opinion, I would hold out on school right now. 8 days is great and  congrats, but the process of sobriety is truly just beginning and I think if you want to learn to live sober and  STAY sober then you should give yourself some time to work on you and only you. Hold off on school and work (if financially possible) right now. Work on yourself, the reasons you were using, go to meetings, make a support system, then all of these things will contribute to your foundation and then when you are strong and healthy emotionally and physically, things like school and work will happen for you in the way they should. You don't want to risk rushing back into school and becoming too stressed or tempted, relapsing, and then wasting another school semester (it took me a long time to figure that one out lol).

Also, about going to school to become a pharmacist, honestly I think that could be kind of hard. Youd have to deal with always having pills around, touching them, dispensing them, reading other peoples prescriptions, I guess I wonder, as a sober person, why would you want to do that? If you truly check your motives and get honest with yourself and that is the career you are passionate about or most interested in then pursue it, but maybe now that you are getting sober there will be other things you find youre interested in. I have found one of the things that has helped me the most in my sobriety is service adn helping people, especially other people addicted/and recovering from addiction. Personally, I think I would become resentful and have a very hard time if i worked giving out pills to people, BUT that is just me.

What are u doing for your sobriety? Do you have any kind of long term place in plan? Congrats on 8 days sober!
Helpful - 0
4202953 tn?1377183506
I think it really depends on you. If you feel that you can be around the pills and not relapse then go for it! I, for one, know that it would only take one trigger or craving and I would begin rationalizing why one one pill wouldn't be missed (and we all know that "just one pill" never works out). Good luck, and I DO think you should go back to school...just make sure the industry fits:)!
Helpful - 0
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