Bob, South Carolina Pharmacist

I started pharmacy school with 10 years of sobriety. After graduating and working several years as a pharmacist, I decided to have a few drinks at a Christmas party. Two years later, I had drunk myself out of one job and had started smoking crack cocaine. Very quickly, I became unemployable. I was not allowed to see my seven-year-old daughter. With family concern and love, I could get into a twenty-eight-day treatment program. I self-reported to the South Carolina Recovering Professional Program after completing treatment. Because I self-reported, I was anonymous to the Board of Pharmacy and would have stayed anonymous to the Board if I had stayed clean and sober. I did not do what RPP asked of me, and in less than a year, I had ended up right where I was before I went into treatment, thinking my daughter would be better off if I was dead. I had nothing to live for, or so I thought. But God had plans for me. I ended up at a recovery facility for five months, and because of the relapses, I thought I would never be able to practice pharmacy again. My house was foreclosed on, and my truck was repossessed. Addiction had cost me everything. One year later, with twenty-one months of sobriety, I entered into a consent agreement before the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy. My license was placed on probation by the Board. I was very blessed that I was able to find work during that time. With RPP’s support, I embraced my recovery and started rebuilding my life and career.

Healthcare Professionals in South Carolina are very fortunate to have the South Carolina Recovering Professional Program. The staff is firm but fair. I was fully compliant with the consent agreement. When I went before the Board of Pharmacy to request to be released from the agreement, RPP went with me to vouch for my success, and the request was granted. My license was restored to full, unrestricted practice. RPP saved my life on more than one occasion, and the Board of Pharmacy allowed me to regain my life. I now have custody of my daughter, whom I was not allowed to see seven years ago, and I am working as a pharmacist doing what I love to do, helping people. Thank you, RPP, for helping all the healthcare professionals.