Common Disqualifier re: Vicodin/Prescription drugs

[noelchabanel]

You have a legitimate prescription because a doctor thinks you need it, why would that be a problem?

[Wanabe]

yes I do. Ok, I guess it wont be then. I was just checking thank you

[retdetsgt]

wow soon after responding to this post i went to the dentist and had a emergency surgery because a tooth was severly infected. I have never taking vicodine, but they prescribed me it today i wasnt even going to take it, but the pain became to much. So my question is can this DQ me? I passed my medical already but i know their is a mini medical.

Of course not! Gimme a break, you had dental work and the dentist gave you pain meds for it. Do you really think that you would have to have surgery without anesthesia because you are or wanna be a cop? You don't see the difference here? Use some common sense, please....

[AnthonyM83]

I have an extremely hard time believing that if all you ever did wrong in your lifetime was take a few Vicodin under proper dosing and administration circumstances you would be DQed, no questions asked.

I'm hearing people go both ways here. Some are saying the absolute opposite (they should be prosecuted, they fail the standard, no way they'll ever hire him) and some are saying it's just a waiting period of 3 - 5 years for many agencies.

I'm a bit of "thinker" and when they ask if I've ever taken a drug not prescribed to me, I'd probably have to say yes...but how old do you have to be for it to count?

A lot of families weren't raised with knowledge of prescription drug laws...I know I was told it could be dangerous for you...but I know at some point my mom gave me my sister's prescription cough medicine or something of that sort...though I can't remember a single specific example.

It just seems like there'd be a gradient, rather than absolute and might be counterbalanced by my other history? Thoughts?

[bjj_cop_maybe]

wow soon after responding to this post i went to the dentist and had a emergency surgery because a tooth was severly infected. I have never taking vicodine, but they prescribed me it today i wasnt even going to take it, but the pain became to much. So my question is can this DQ me? I passed my medical already but i know their is a mini medical.

I hope you are joking. The post is in reference to taking a prescription medication WITHOUT a doctors prescription. If a dentist (doctor) is prescribing you the medication, that is not illegal what-so-ever.

[AmarulaCream]

Can we please close this thread... I think everyone was off-kilter here and this is going nowhere.

Goodnight.

[Kimble]

This thread is getting off track, and quite frankly, getting a little goofy. Before I close this, I'll sum a few things up:

1. Using prescription medication without a legal prescription from a medical doctor (MD, DMD, etc.) is a no-no. It can affect your hiring eligibility (maybe, maybe not, as department hiring policies vary), but time can help.

2. Disclose what you've done and hope for the best. If departments say "no", give it a few years and try your hand again.

3. As others have said, common sense would dictate that having a legal prescription would be perfectly legal. If you lack the common sense to know this, you might want to look to see if a McDonald's nearest to you is hiring.