Sharing Prescription Drugs

I know that I should know the answer to this...

I was on a trip with some of my friends recently and heard something that really concerned me and made me wonder what my obligation was, as an RN. "Susie" forgot her Ambien for sleep, so "Jane" said, "Here, I have a muscle relaxer that you can take." I said, "Absolutely not, you can't take someone else's prescription drugs!" Would doing so be a felony and am I mandated to report it if they had actually gone through with this?
I would say your obligation would be to offer teaching in a non-judgemental way...you certainly are not obligated to report to law enforcement...

Hopefully they aren't nurses! Don't think it is a felony, let alone reportable. Instead, use it as an opportunity to teach and explain to them all the reasons that this is a dangerous idea.

You are a bit over the top! I agree with the other posters that this is a good educational situation. And, of course, a muscle relaxer isn't the same as Ambien. Other than that, leave it be.

Felony...nowho would you report this to?I agree with the others...use this as a good teaching point

WOW...just...wow.No reason to "report" your friends. You said your peace, now move on. And maybe try not to be quite so rigid. I'm sure your friends didn't realize that this practice is not only unwise, but illegal. Now they know better.

Quote from Finally2008I know that I should know the answer to this...I was on a trip with some of my friends recently and heard something that really concerned me and made me wonder what my obligation was, as an RN. "Susie" forgot her Ambien for sleep, so "Jane" said, "Here, I have a muscle relaxer that you can take." I said, "Absolutely not, you can't take someone else's prescription drugs!" Would doing so be a felony and am I mandated to report it if they had actually gone through with this?

Really? Well, report me and mine. Back when zyrtec was prescription only, sometimes on really bad days, my hubby would take one of my daughter's zyrtec pills.I hurt my back and had ultram for the first couple of day, and hubby took a left over ultram when he had a migraine. Knocked him out, he woke up great.Hubby had knee surgery and only took 4 of his 12 lortab 5s. They're in the back of the closet, in case anyone turns an ankle (We're a very active and sporty, but very clumsy family). When my brother suddenly announced that he and his wife were splitting up, and the next day my grandma got admitted to the hospital for sepsis (she had pneumonia and UTI), I ordered my mom to take one of my dad's xanax and go to bed. She had an appointment in two days to see her doc for depression, but she needed some sleep right then. She wasn't in danger... she just needed to calm down and sleep. She took, on my recommendation, a total of four xanax in the two days prior to that appointment. She shared that with her doc, as well as the fact that my dad usually just takes one or two a month, and the doc told her to just use my dad's supply unless she feels like she needs more than a total of 5 in a month; then she needs to call and get a script for her own. So I guess you better turn my mom's doc in, as well.People need to understand that meds all have corresponding contraindications, side effects, and interactions. But really, people share meds all the time. Rather than freak out, it's best to educate people on their meds, what they do, why they're prescribed, and why it's best to typically not share them. Sharing does occur, however, all the time. No need to burst a vessel or wring your hands over it. Mainly, your friends probably needed to know that ambien and a muscle relaxant are two completely different medications, and the effect on your friend who forgot her ambien might not be the effect she was looking for!

Quote from BabyLadyConsidering that muscle relaxers are roughly made out of the same class of drugs as Ambien, I wouldn't have said anything...in fact, the muscle relaxer in my opinion was milder. If it was a completely different class of drugs, I may have reminded the "borrower" that if she had any allergies, you would advise against it.

Fer cryin out loud, with friends like you, who needs the DEA? Quote from Finally2008I know that I should know the answer to this...I was on a trip with some of my friends recently and heard something that really concerned me and made me wonder what my obligation was, as an RN. "Susie" forgot her Ambien for sleep, so "Jane" said, "Here, I have a muscle relaxer that you can take." I said, "Absolutely not, you can't take someone else's prescription drugs!" Would doing so be a felony and am I mandated to report it if they had actually gone through with this?

I dont think Susie and Jane are nurses, I think the OP was saying as a RN does she have an obligation to report. I would say no, I would just say "The muscle relaxant may not have the same effect as your Ambien, its a different med..........." like others said, throw in a teaching lesson. If Susie still takes the muscle relaxant and lives, I dont see the big deal. Susie made the choice after the teaching, than that is her business. We tell diabetics to watch their diet all the time and even they dont listen. Enjoy your vacay, not a big deal. Let it fly. Be their friend not their nurse, youre on vacation for Godsake! LoL! Reporting them would be waaaay overboard.

Quote from BluegrassRNReally? Well, report me and mine. Back when zyrtec was prescription only, sometimes on really bad days, my hubby would take one of my daughter's zyrtec pills.I hurt my back and had ultram for the first couple of day, and hubby took a left over ultram when he had a migraine. Knocked him out, he woke up great.Hubby had knee surgery and only took 4 of his 12 lortab 5s. They're in the back of the closet, in case anyone turns an ankle (We're a very active and sporty, but very clumsy family). When my brother suddenly announced that he and his wife were splitting up, and the next day my grandma got admitted to the hospital for sepsis (she had pneumonia and UTI), I ordered my mom to take one of my dad's xanax and go to bed. She had an appointment in two days to see her doc for depression, but she needed some sleep right then. She wasn't in danger... she just needed to calm down and sleep. She took, on my recommendation, a total of four xanax in the two days prior to that appointment. She shared that with her doc, as well as the fact that my dad usually just takes one or two a month, and the doc told her to just use my dad's supply unless she feels like she needs more than a total of 5 in a month; then she needs to call and get a script for her own. So I guess you better turn my mom's doc in, as well.People need to understand that meds all have corresponding contraindications, side effects, and interactions. But really, people share meds all the time. Rather than freak out, it's best to educate people on their meds, what they do, why they're prescribed, and why it's best to typically not share them. Sharing does occur, however, all the time. No need to burst a vessel or wring your hands over it. Mainly, your friends probably needed to know that ambien and a muscle relaxant are two completely different medications, and the effect on your friend who forgot her ambien might not be the effect she was looking for!

Woah, everyone put down your rocks!! Public stoning for asking a question of my peers in what, I thought, was a safe forum? I DID NOT say this was a felony and I DID NOT report them. I was trying to ask if I had done something wrong in not taking it more seriously. I DID NOT lecture them.I think my biggest mistake in this was in not just quietly doing my own research online and in thinking I could ask a question without being attacked and ridiculed....I'll go back to my hole now....feel free to kick me as I leave.....