Substance Diversion Can Lead to Professional Board Inquiries

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 12 struggles with an alcohol abuse disorder. NCDAS also reports that as of 2023, 25% of American teens and adults had used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year. No subclass of society is immune to these statistics. In fact, many professions that require years of schooling and licensing requirements are plagued by particularly high rates of drug and alcohol abuse.

If you are struggling with a substance abuse concern and you’re worried about how this medical challenge could impact your career, know that crossing your fingers and hoping that everything works out is not a viable strategy. Whether the oversight board that manages your professional license has already started asking questions or you’re “simply” running a risk that this might happen, it’s time to take an informed, proactive approach to your circumstances. Talk to us about your situation today by calling 888-535-3686 or by contacting the LLF National Law Firm online to get started.

Seeking Help While Protecting Your Career

Substance abuse and addiction can make people feel truly desperate when they are in need of a fix. They may do things that they would never ordinarily dream of when in this state. The same can be said for what people may do when they are drunk or high. As a result, situations sometimes unfold that understandably demand the intervention of a professional board.

For example, a nurse working in Massachusetts recently faced federal charges for allegedly removing a non-verbal hospice patient’s liquid oxycodone from a prescription bottle and replacing it with a household cleaner. When a professional in a position of trust has been criminally charged with wrongdoing that is likely related to a substance abuse issue, the board empowered to exercise oversight related to that professional’s license is likely to question whether that professional should be subjected to licensure-related consequences as a result of their conduct. Otherwise, the integrity of the licensee’s career and the profession as a whole could be compromised, as could the safety of those whom the profession serves. These consequences may include participation in a drug or alcohol diversion program.

Yet, proactive participation in drug or alcohol diversion or treatment programs may raise red flags with a professional licensing board as well. While the members of licensing boards generally support the efforts of professionals to seek and maintain sobriety, if a substance abuse concern only reaches the collective ears of a board as a result of a professional’s participation in drug or alcohol diversion or broad-based treatment that has already begun, the board may still question whether a licensee has engaged in conduct while drunk, high, or seeking a fix that warrants scrutiny. As a result, it is generally wise to seek legal guidance if you are a professional who is in need of substance abuse treatment and/or criminal alcohol or drug diversion opportunities to avoid prosecution for alleged criminal misconduct related to your addiction-related struggles.

Legal Assistance Is Available

If a licensing board is or could soon be scrutinizing your professional conduct and capacity, know that there are ways to resolve this situation as favorably as possible under the circumstances. The trusted Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help. 

Your career, health, and future are worth fighting for. Speak with us about your concerns today by calling 888-535-3686 or by contacting us online so that we can begin building the strongest possible professional defense on your behalf. We look forward to working with you.