Drug use

butlered791

butlered791

Well-Known Member
I'm in highschool and I would love to be a police officer. I have one major concern. About a week ago, I took a Xanax at my friends party. I know now that I was stupid for taking it, but at the time it didn't occur to me that it was illegal. I have smoked marijuana probably around ten times in my life. Do you think this would automatically disqualify me? I'm just trying to be realistic and I don't want to waste my time trying to be an officer.
 
In some Police Departments you couldl be disqualified. There are too many other applicants that have a clean record.
 
Like they said in some departments that might be an automatic DQ, but certainly not all. I am pretty sure almost every Police Officer that is working now has done some drug in their life time, we were all stupid kids at one time. If someone told me that they have never tried Marijuana before, I would just assume they were lying.
 
butlered791 said:
I'm in highschool and I would love to be a police officer. I have one major concern. About a week ago, I took a Xanax at my friends party. I know now that I was stupid for taking it, but at the time it didn't occur to me that it was illegal. I have smoked marijuana probably around ten times in my life. Do you think this would automatically disqualify me? I'm just trying to be realistic and I don't want to waste my time trying to be an officer.
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How would this disqualify you? You said you have used these things, you never said that you were caught using them. If no one knows that you used them, how would it effect you?
It's a good idea to not use certain things if you want to be a cop but, if you are talking about what you did in the past, you'll be fine.

I'm not sure why that was a major concern.
 
Whitewolf2578 said:
Like they said in some departments that might be an automatic DQ, but certainly not all. I am pretty sure almost every Police Officer that is working now has done some drug in their life time, we were all stupid kids at one time. If someone told me that they have never tried Marijuana before, I would just assume they were lying.
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I have never tried mariquana before - just like I have never even smoked before. I am very confused about this topic. It should be common knowledge that drugs you have used in your past are completely out of your system. The original post seemed "different".

I'm sure they do drug testing but, that would not detect substances from months or years previous to that time.
 
If you have never been caught and had this misdemeanors recorded then there is no problem.
 
I think it's in your best interest to be truthful throughout the hiring process, though. There's always the possibility it will come up on a polygraph if your department does that. I've read that mild recreational drug experimentation in the distant past doesn't really disqualify you as long as you've remained truthful. And make sure you stay clean from here on out :)
 
I have several friends in law enforcement and here in Florida most agencies do use polygraph examinations. This is true for all police positions even including the 911 dispatchers that route your call to the correct agency or officer. Again, being honest is always the best thing but some police departments do make a distinction between casual marijuana use and abusing every other drug.

The defense that you didn't know it was illegal is not usually very good grounds for law enforcement, and while they will prefer you to be completely 100% honest, you should speak with someone who knows about the hiring practices in your specific department and ask him about prior drug use.
 
Well, you disobeyed the law at a young age, what makes you think they'll listen to you now? It really just depends on the department.
 
If that was one time use I don't think you'll have problems, but I would stop it if I want to be a police officer.
 
I agree with JoshPosh!
Wait a year and complete some college, and community service. Once that year has passed, you would be more mature and better able to protect and serve the public. The child should not be penalized forever!
The child already knows that drugs were a stupid waste of time. I smoked it in college. I am happy that I matured before trying to work with the general public. Everyone makes mistakes!
 
I know it seems dishonest, but most departments deal with the drug use questions with a wink and a nod. Smoking a joint doesn't make you a murderer, but think about your choices. If you really want to be an officer, think about stopping the illicit drug use. Good Luck!
 
Did you get arrested? If not, what's all the worry for. Just know that as a police officer you're expected to be an upstanding member of the community. Live your life as someone worthy of respect. The habits you form today will either make you or break you.
 
I think that the most important is that you're clean now, just keep like that and you'll have no issues.
 
Smoking one joint shouldn't make you any more of a criminal than sipping a glass of wine. So long as you don't abuse it, there is nothing wrong, with marijuana being legalized in a growing number of states.

However taking illegal drugs like cocaine is a different story. Please don't start on it.
 
If you are clean now and are honest about what you did, I don't see how this would disqualify you. There's actually not too many people who never did drugs before which certainly includes the police because they are people too. Stay clean and go for it if a cop is really what you want to be. Don't let a mistake you made deter you from even trying.
 
Yeah, I can't conceive a police officer consuming, but the past is the past, so just stay on the right track.
 
I doubt as long as by the time you are going to get tested you come up clean and you also have to choose to stay clean according to their rules.
 
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