Or Xanax and Ambien and I would, I would--man, you realize

And it was a approach to cope" [3:4]). On the other hand, several reported turning to substances to manage traumatic life events as well (e.g., "I began drinking chronically and every day immediately after a divorce. Or while waiting for my divorce" [4:3]). Still other folks indicated utilizing substances to manage day-to-day stressors: "I was an intern at the time, in get Foretinib pharmacy college and was operating full time as well as going to college. I had attempted Percocet previously and it relieved my anxiety, so I started helping myself to significant quantities of Vicodin and jir.2013.0113 then Vicodin and Soma." [6:4] This was specifically true when it came to dealing with the challenges of a stressful career and its connected problems: "I bear in mind pondering that when I got off work, that it was time for a thoughts modify, and I was privileged in that I had a job exactly where I could do that and no bmjopen-2015-010112 a single wouldNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptJ Am Pharm Assoc (2003). Author manuscript; offered in PMC 2013 August 29.Merlo et al.Pageknow...Or Xanax and Ambien and I'd, I would--man, you know, it wasn't right--but I would manipulate the doctor into giving me prescriptions for Percocet. You realize, I've a undesirable back and I would go to the doctor and be like, `Look, I'm in pain,' you know, and I would get prescriptions for Percocet or, you realize, couple times I had Demerol. Stuff like that. And after that I'd abuse it. You understand, I wouldn't use it like the medical doctor prescribed." [1:1] Nevertheless, in some circumstances, the pharmacists reported that their dependence intensified until they could no longer satisfy their cravings with doctor-prescribed medicines (e.g., "I started employing opiates that I got through a prescription and then it just escalated, escalated till I started writing my own and stealing from the pharmacy" [6:2]). Although the majority of pharmacists described creating addiction to medicines that had been prescribed for physical ailments, some reported misuse of psychotropic medicines meant to treat mental illness. Furthermore, quite a few pharmacists reported using substances to self-medicate for tension or other mental well being symptoms: "Whenever a circumstance came up and I had to handle anxiety or a dilemma like that, I constantly turned to drugs or chemicals or alcohol, from a fairly young age. When I got into retail [pharmacy], mainly because I hated my job a lot and anything, and also the stuff was accessible, each day you know, `Today's a poor day, so I gotta use. I gotta get out of this place. Gotta, gotta get out of this head.'" [1:2] Those who likely had a diagnosable psychiatric condition seemed especially at risk (e.g., "Mine was health issues--depression as well as a lack of, not being, inability to sleep. And also that my mom was dying, and depression and everything like that. And I could not sleep properly and I was functioning a lot of. So, it was, a whole lot of it was health troubles, you realize.