Julesy
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posted on March 31, 2001 12:33:36 PM new
I know there are a couple law enforcement folks who read here and family of law enforcement folks, so I Thought I'd ask...
On many employment apps, for jobs in the public sector, I notice a "personal inquiry" page is usually included...and one thing they ask about is illegal drug use. Let's say you're applying for a job with a law enforcement agency (don't fret, I'll never possess a firearm), how prudent is it to admit that you used illegal drugs in your youth? Does admitting prior drug use essentially nullify any chance of employment? I would never lie on one of these apps, but I'm wondering if it's even worth it to apply if the admittance of drug use would land the application in the reject pile.
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heyleigh
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posted on March 31, 2001 12:47:42 PM new
Just tell em you didn't inhale. 
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saabsister
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posted on March 31, 2001 12:54:11 PM new
Julesy. Years ago I applied for a job as a dispatcher for one of the police departments in the Washington,DC area. The same inquiry about drug use was on their application. I answered it truthfully - I had smoked grass in the early seventies, but hadn't in the ten years prior to this job application. It didn't prevent me from taking their exam and being put on the list for future employment. What kept me from taking the job was the advice from several of the police officers my father had trained. They said the hours were long, the work stressful, and the office was too short staffed. (One officer told me that an applicant my age who hadn't smoked a few joints would be suspected of lying.)
Other friends of mine have worked for several local governments and their answers about marijuana use have never prevented them from getting a job.
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:06:29 PM new
Frankly? I would lie.
VeryModern Space Junk
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Julesy
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:11:34 PM new
heyleigh LOL! 
I'd considered pulling the "I smoked pot, but it always made me sick" thing, but they make you take a polygraph, too, if the application makes it through the first couple rounds...
Thanks, saabsister! What you said makes sense. 
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:15:30 PM new
Some people/place/agencies will not even consider you if you admit drug use because of future potential liability, as in "...hired a known drug user.."
VeryModern Space Junk
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Julesy
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:15:33 PM new
Hi VM --
My karma's bad enough as it is right now. I don't think I could pull off this lie, even if I wanted to.
[ edited by Julesy on Mar 31, 2001 01:16 PM ]
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:22:54 PM new
There really is such a thing as "they don't want to know" and depending on the job and the demand for it - there is a chance that your app would be roundfiled because of a "yes" answer, without further consideration.
VeryModern Space Junk
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:26:03 PM new
Okay.... I don't mean to be telling someone to lie. I am just being honest is stating that I would lie. It is the survivor in me.
VeryModern Space Junk
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KatyD
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:27:46 PM new
Hi Julesy,
Yes, I was going to say that if the job is with a law enforcement agency, most likely you will be required to submit to a polygraph. It's best to be honest. Not that they are fail safe (because they're not if you know how to do it right)but you would be better off telling the truth. Different agencies have different criteria in evaluating past "drug use" in applying for a job. One agency my husband had applied to years ago would not qualify him because he admitted a one-time use of cocaine as an 18 year old. It was only once, but it was enough to not get hired. They didn't care about the multiple times he used marijuana as a teenager. Another agency did not necessarily discount marijuana use, but they wanted to know how many times it was used, ie "less than 10 times", less than 20 times", "more than 30 times" etc. Needless to say, he didn't make THAT criteria. So it all depends. I know many agencies that were very strict in the 80's and 90's regarding hiring of applicants with past drug use, now have become much more lenient. So it really depends on where you apply. As an aside, and I don't know if this is true, I have heard that Florida (specifically Miami) law enforcement agencies have among the most liberal policies with regard to past drug use by applicants. But I don't know if it is true. Good luck to you and hope you get the job!
KatyD
(clarity)
[ edited by KatyD on Mar 31, 2001 01:30 PM ]
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Hepburn
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:29:24 PM new
I would tell the truth. Dont go into detail, but a simple "yes, back in 19 whatever" and leave it at that.
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:32:06 PM new
You guys are all so honest! No wonder I get a job so easy! heh heh heh - that's a joke!
VeryModern Space Junk
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KatyD
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:34:12 PM new
Well Hepburn they will then want to quantify how many times. I couldn't SAY how many times I smoked pot. It was definitely over 100, and if you're smoking it regularly, how are you supposed to keep track of how many times? I absolutely used to LOVE pot. I was a big pothead in college.
KatyD
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Hepburn
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posted on March 31, 2001 01:46:22 PM new
lol, katyd. Im not telling what I did, so pardon me for not sharing
Tell the truth, and THEN give details verbally if they ask.
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gravid
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posted on March 31, 2001 02:04:58 PM new
I'm just not even interested in working for someone who wants to stick their nose in my personal life and I have never done any drugs - never even cigarettes. They will want to know how often you have sex next. Creeps...
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 02:09:59 PM new
Yes gravid - and if it is the "compromised" angle, then why don't they ask how much you drink?
If it is the "break a law" thing, they why not ask how many speeding tickets I have?
VeryModern Space Junk
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KatyD
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posted on March 31, 2001 02:30:19 PM new
LOL! VM With your driving record, they'd snag you right up, and put you in charge of their high speed driving training program. You'd prolly end up on their crack highway pursuit team!
KatyD
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VeryModern
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posted on March 31, 2001 02:35:43 PM new
KatyD - I was only in trouble in 3 states. 
You ought to see me in "driving school" for the 4th or 5th go round..
Instructor pointing ..
"Does anyone know what this is...?
Me, from the back of the room...
"Stop line! Is it the stop line?"
Awful way to spend a Saturday. I tried to stay vibrant in there.
wave to xardon if he is lurking
VeryModern Space Junk
[ edited by VeryModern on Mar 31, 2001 02:36 PM ]
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SilkMoth
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posted on March 31, 2001 06:04:35 PM new
I'm with gravid - they'd think I was lying, but I never did drugs and never smoked.
I had to take a drug test one time only, when I went to work for a bank. They called me at 2:30 pm and said "Your test is set up for 4:00 this afternoon. Here's the address."
I had been to the dentist that morning and had ended up with an unexpected root canal. I was so full of oxycodone at 2:30 that I couldn't even drive.
They hired me anyway, after I brought a note from the dentist.
--------
SilkMoth only on the message boards
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gravid
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posted on March 31, 2001 06:18:19 PM new
I worked in a shop once with a fellow who smoked pot all day long. He was huge with a flaming red beard and came to work with a whole day's supply rolled and stuck up in his beard. He stayed so stoned he had to work on a stool because he could not stand up. The crazy thing was he would make good parts for a 12 hour shift when the sober guys were making scrap. He wore an 8x shirt and weighed about 425 and when coffee break came he would
have a gallon of milk and a dozen donuts. It would have been a hoot to test the people in that shop. Our truck driver came in on pills one day and lay down on a tarp with his motorcycle helmet on and passed out - he slept through the whole shift and then was mad because nobody punched him in.
We were raided 3 times by the BATF in the 5 years I was there because everyone there seemed to be fond of machine guns. The guy with the red beard was a classIII firearms dealer and even had a 3inch field gun like you tow behind a truck. They would work with a 6 pack if beer on their bench and pop a new one as needed. Strange Strange place.
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RainyBear
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posted on March 31, 2001 07:00:02 PM new
Different agencies have different policies about past drug use. A few years ago I was considering becoming a police officer, and the requirements were outlined by the local departments. "No drug use during the past three years" or one year or five years, etc.
If you fill out the application at least you have a shot at the job, right?
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brighid868
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posted on April 1, 2001 08:00:10 AM new
I smoked a lot of pot and dropped acid about 10 times in my late teens/early 20s, plus tried cocaine (once) valiums (couple times) mushrooms (twice) and snorted speed (maybe three times). I lived in LA, hung out with musicians, etc. and to me that was just a typical young adult experience for the era, I've not had interest in drugs of any type other than those legally prescribed in almost 10 years, because I got bored by the music scene and moved on to other things.
It's ironic that I am a very good citizen these days, and actually rate myself as rather conservative in many ways, yet my past experimentation would surely knock me out of the running for any type of law enforcement job or other job.
I was planning to get my teaching credential next year and start substitute teaching...makes me wonder if there are any 'past drug use' requirements to do that?
My past is a part of me, of course, but it has little to do with who I am today.
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on April 1, 2001 08:47:02 PM new
I think if you admitted to past drug use it could make it hard for you to get a job in a potato chip factory .....
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reamond
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posted on April 2, 2001 05:46:38 AM new
Only lie about things which have a low liklihood of being shown otherwise- I think politicos call it plausible deniability.
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ypayretail
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posted on April 2, 2001 05:06:49 PM new
Nordstrom has a similar ethical questionaire. More towards theft though. Would you pick up a $5 bill on the ground or look for the owner. Have you ever done illegal drugs, even in your youth, etc.
Nordstrom will NOT hire those who always answer the way think you would. If all answers are never, etc. you will not be hired.
On another note - I applied for a foster license in California some years ago. One question was have you ever been convicted of a felony? Well, when I was 19 I received several tickets that I did not pay so the next time I was pulled over I gave my sister's name, dob etc. Many months later they found out. I was arrested as giving false information to a police officer is a felony. I filled out the ap honestly and was approved as a foster mother as it had been 15 years since it happened and I explained it and it matched the records they ran.
I guess you have to use your judgement depending on the job and circumstances. I certainly would never say yes and when asked to explain say I used to be a coke addict or something similar. But saying yes, I smoked pot or did drugs during my young party days would probably fly and be more towards most people's reality. I guess it would also depend on how long ago the indicents too place along with the rest of your record etc.
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toke
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posted on April 2, 2001 05:09:24 PM new
Jules...
You are in an alien place. Save yourself.
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