Chemical dependency is a cunning, baffling, miserable disease. Denial is a major factor involved, stopping those with this disease from seeking help for themselves. So often, concerned family members, friends, and colleagues express knowledge that a problem exists, but are unable to identify it. The following Impaired Pharmacist Impaired Symptom Inventory may help to identify the problem and get them the help that is so readily available before it is too late.
- Overwork **
- Disorganized schedule
- Spasmodic word pace
- Unreasonable behavior
- Inaccessible to patients and employer
- Prescription errors **
- Patient complaints
- Frequent absences
- Decreasing workload and tolerance
- Frequent days off for vague reasons
- Taking sexual advantage of coworkers or customers
- Filling illegal prescriptions
- Taking and/or using drugs from pharmacy without follow-up by physician**
- Taking/selling drugs to others or giving them to family or friends
- Often late, absent, or ill
- Decreasing work performance
- “Pharmacy Gossip”
- Incommunicative/unavailable
- Alcohol on breath while in pharmacy
**Early signs