First a little background:
I am applying to be a police officer and so far have taken two polygraphs for 2 different departments.  The first polygraph I took, the polygrapher said I was having trouble with the drug usage question.  I have never done any drugs, but I have had friends that did them.  I was completely honest and did not try to deceive or mislead.  When I went to the oral board for this department I was asked if I wanted to change my answer.  When I said "no, I have never done drugs." they asked again stating it was not dis-qualifying to have previously used and was I sure I didn't want to change my answer.  I said "no" naturally since I wasn't lying.  Basically this threw the whole oral board off for me and I did not pass.

Since then I have applied to another department and taken a second polygraph.  I fully disclosed everything in the questionaire booklet and was completely honest again.  I apparently failed again.  I'm now rescheduled for a re-test.

At this point I am unbelieveably frustrated.  I really want to be a police officer and basically this "test" might prevent me from getting a job.  I KNOW I have never done drugs.  But this "test" is basically saying I did.  The whole situation makes me so mad. Nothing pisses me off more than someone challenging my integrity.

Basically I am wondering what to do at this point.  Not taking the test is not an option (I want the job).  So I am left with employing countermeasures or disclosing that I have read this site and the book.  Personally, I don't know how I feel about using countermeasures since I would be scared to screw them up and even though the test is bullshit, I am not totally comfortable with being deceptive.  What would happen if I just told the polygrapher that I have researched the test based on my experiences and that I have absolutely no faith in the polygraph?  That I KNOW I have never used drugs, so obviously the test is flawed.

Has anyone tried this approach and what were the results?  If I "fail" this test again I am liable to go ballistic on the examiner.  That is how angry this whole situation is making me. Any advice is welcome.

Thanks.

Thanks for the answer George.

My re-test is scheduled for later today (i.e. I should be asleep right now, but cannot).  At this point I am very emotionally drained by the whole experience.  I still badly want to be a police officer and feel I would make an excellent one, but I am not optimistic as long as the polygraph is one of the hurtles I have to jump.

Trust me I have made my family and friends very aware of the flawed nature of the polygraph.  These are the people that know me intimately and know I told the truth when I say I have never used drugs.  Word is getting out, unfortunately it is costing the people that fall victim to it a lot of harm in the meantime.