Finnish care worker repeatedly worked under influence of drugs, sold to colleagues

A Finnish care assistant admitted to working while intoxicated on amphetamines and other substances, often mishandling medication and endangering patient safety, according to a report by national broadcaster Yle.

The woman, identified only as Tiina to protect her employment prospects, described administering insulin incorrectly and failing to monitor elderly patients properly, leading to falls. “I still feel guilty,” she said. She has now been sober for nearly two years.

Tiina also sold drugs—primarily Subutex and amphetamine—to other healthcare workers, estimating that six out of ten buyers admitted using substances to cope with job demands. “They worked in care too,” she said.

Her case reflects a broader pattern: substance abuse is the leading cause of professional license revocations in Finland’s social and healthcare sector, accounting for 59% of cases last year, per the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (LVV). While alcohol-related incidents have declined, misuse of prescription drugs—especially central nervous system medications—has risen, according to LVV lawyer Saija Aaltonen.

Care assistants (lähihoitajat) face the highest disciplinary actions among healthcare roles, with 83 restrictions imposed last year alone, up from 46 in 2023. Registered nurses also saw increased sanctions, with 35 losing their licenses in 2025 compared to 22 in 2021.

Tiina retained her professional title despite her history, which she attributes to colleagues overlooking warning signs. She admitted fabricating excuses—claiming red eyes were from swimming or dilated pupils from new eye drops—and changing jobs before her behavior was reported.

Päivi Inberg, chair of the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Super), confirmed that substance abuse in the sector is often ignored. “Colleagues hesitate to intervene in personal matters, and employers act too late,” she said.

Yle verified Tiina’s account through treatment records, peer support documentation, and employment references spanning multiple locations. She now participates in recovery programs and hopes to return to care work.