Discussing Resources for Pharmacists with Substance Use Disorder

In 2010, Jake Nichols, PharmD, MBA, was working in an oncology specialty pharmacy after losing several of his previous jobs. He had very dramatic mood swings, was constantly late to work or just didn’t show up at all. These behaviors had become normal for Nichols and were due to his substance use disorder, something he had been battling since his days as a student in pharmacy school.

About 6 months into his new position at the specialty pharmacy, Nichols’ employer caught him stealing controlled substances. This incident forced him to come to grips with the fact he had a serious issue—whether he wanted to except it or not. He then went into treatment and completed detox, outpatient care and a 5-year pharmacist recovery program.

Nichols has now been in recovery for over 14 years and speaks publicly about his experience in the hopes of helping other pharmacists who are in a similar situation. Research has shown that pharmacists are at an increased risk for substance abuse due to many factors involving their work environment, such as burnout, stress, and constant exposure and access to controlled substances.

Approximately 1 in 9 pharmacists will suffer from a substance use disorder at some point in their career and 46% report having used controlled substances without a prescription. However, the relentless stigma around addiction prevents many from seeking help due to feelings of shame and embarrassment. By openly talking about his recovery journey, Nichols is doing his part to help erase the stigma so that pharmacists dealing with addiction don’t hesitate to reach out and get the help they need.

For National Recovery Month, Drug Topics sat down with Nichols to discuss what kinds of resources there are for pharmacists dealing with a substance use disorder, the importance of mental health care, why pharmacists are at an increased risk for substance abuse, and that recovery is possible.

“As you can imagine, because I've been very public about my experience, I get a lot of folks that reach out to me that are struggling with [addiction],” Nichols said. “[For] pharmacists, my first statement to them, regardless of the situation, is everything's going to be okay. There have been many that have come before you that have conquered this and have basically repaired all the damage that they've done along the way, and live very productive lives and take care of their family.”

READ MORE: Substance Use Disorder Resource Center

Pharmacy practice is always changing. Stay ahead of the curve: Sign up for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.