I will be taking a polygraph soon for a police dispatcher.  Although I haven't done anything I am concerned about and I have no reason to lie there is one issue I would rather they not know about.

I have adult ADHD and I take Dexedrine (amphetamine) for it.  It *is* by prescription and I don't even take nearly as many as are prescribed.  Abuse isn't an issue as I still have two rx's I have yet to get filled because I still have quite a few.

Anytime I have ever been asked if I take any drugs the thought of Dexedrine being a "meth users dream come true" I feel an instant emotion.  Even when I went to a new doc and he asked if I take any meds I said no but I don't think he believed me.  Hard to explain but basically I am concerned I am going to blow it even though I really have not taken illegal drugs.

I do NOT want to tell anyone of my ADHD or Dex.  It is personal, it is none of their business, and I don't want them to know.

How do I deal with this?

Also, what kinds of questions will be asked for a police dispatcher?  I don't steal, I don't do anything illegal, I don't use illegal drugs, I don't fib... I don't see how I have anything to worry about except when it comes to my Dex.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Batman...

>>OK, you're applying for a position within a Law Enforcement agency as a Dispatcher.  You have been diagnosed with ADHD and are taking prescription medication for it.  How is this not any business of your potential employer given the position of responsibility you are applying for?<<

How *is* it the business of an employer?  ADD/ADHD is not going to affect my job, it isn't any of their business.

I used to have the same attitude as you but let me tell you of an experience.

I was working in a pharmacy as a CPhT.  I got my Dex Rx's filled there because I did not realize I had something I was supposed to be ashamed of.  I thought nothing of telling people. It wasn't a big deal to me.

Well, Dex is a Class II amphetamine.  If the Rx is not written *exactly* right the pharmacy staff have to call the doc and verify the Rx.  *I* am the one who noticed the error, I told the RPh that I did not want to call the doc to verify it since it was my Rx.  He agreed to call the doc's office instead.  We were busy at the time and I did not need it right away so he asked if he could call later.  That was fine with me.

Long story short this is what happened... when I go to the doc I only have to go 4 times yearly and he gives me three Rx's dated for the following three months.  When he recorded this in my chart he made an error.  He documented that he gave me 2 Rx's, not three.  When the RPh called to verify the directions on the Rx the office staff (vs. the doctor) looked it up to see what it was supposed to be vs. what was on the Rx and they saw that there was no Rx for that date.  They asked what the previous fill dates were and the RPh told them, it was then decided that I had forged an Rx.  My RPh did not believe this but in a case like this his license is on the line if he does not follow a specific procedure.

He was required to contact the General Manager and he did.  He also told him that there was some mistake because per the handwriting and comparing it to previous Rx's, he was sure the doc had written this.  It looked very real to him.  That still started an investigation.  I was put on an unpaid LOA, I was brought into the Executive offices and confronted with my supposed forgery.

I didn't do anything wrong.  I got an Rx filled, nothing more.  After the unpaid LOA, the horrible and humiliating accusations of forgery (a felony) and then being asked why I take Dex...  it was then and only then did they contact the doc and he verified it was HIS error.  He merely documented that he gave me 2 rx's vs. 3.  It was human error, not a biggie and believe me, in pharmacy that happens ALL the darn time.  We would call on incorrect Rx's several times daily.  It was not a new thing.  If they would have told me up front what was going on and if they would have explained the situation I could have called the doc right then and there and cleared this up without the humiliation.  But it wasn't handled that way.  Instead I was humiliated beyond description.

This is a HUGE chain pharmacy and it was handled wrong from day one.  The RPh should have talked with the doc instead of his staff when a problem was first discovered.  He failed to do that.  Then the way the exec offices handled it was horrible not to mention illegal.  I could have persued it and they knew that.  I didn't, I just wanted to find a different job because by that time the story had spread and people I did not even know thought that I forged an Rx.  It was embarrassing.

There isn't a chance in the world that I want to repeat that one.  It isn't going to happen.  By law I do not have to tell them of ADHD because it will not interfere with my job and I do not want protection under the American Disabilities Act.  I am not disabled, I am no more disabled than a person with high blood pressure taking antihypertensive meds.

>>I know this means being truthful, which is a rather unique concept presented on this site on rare occasions, but give it a try.  You might like it, and the results<<

Excuse me?  I have not claimed that I want to be anything other than truthful.  By law I do not have to tell them about the Dex.  I can deal with the drug screen merely by not taking the drug for a couple of weeks before the test.  The polygraph is a different story.  I am not suggesting dishonesty, I am saying that my disorder is personal and private and not their business.

Quite frankly you can take your creepy holier than thou attitude and stuff it.  You really don't have a clue what you are talking about.  You are suggesting that I tell them of something so that I can use it to my advantage when I don't need to and you somehow feel this is a superior moral position?  You can't be serious!  And you have the balls to knock others on this board?  Have you really taken a good look at your shitty attitude, your total lack of morality, your pathetic judgment of others, and your overall nasty attitude?  God, after reading your post I want to go wash my eyeballs out with bleach.  You may not realize this but you are simply disgusting.  Perhaps it is time someone spelled that out for you.

Dave...

>>Just playing devil's advocate here, as well as giving you food for thought: What if you stroke out or otherwise require immediate emergency medical attention while behind your console? It is critical that emergency care providers know what is in your system if they are to treat you correctly. Not only would you receive medication and/or dosage of medication that could further injure or kill you, your lack of candor would set up a course of events legally and civilly that would reverberate for quite some time<<

That still wouldn't have anything to do with anything.  Do you give your employer a list of all your meds in case of an emergency?  Nobody does that.  I shouldn't have to either just because my issue happens to be ADHD.

>>If your condition truly does not affect your job performance, create a paper trail conclusively proving that fact and give a copy to any interviewer who challenges the notion<<

It isn't any of their business, I should not HAVE to tell them!  What about people who have herpes?  Genital warts?  What if they have erectile disfunction?  Inability to have an orgasm?  What if they are taking meds for it?  Should they be required to tell of their disorder and what drugs they treat it with?  Or is it just ADHD? ;o)  See what I mean?  If I should tell of my Dex, shouldn't they tell of their Acyclovir for herpes?  Terazosin for enlarged prostate?  What's the difference?  Why should I make it a point to prove that my issues won't interfere with my job when someone that cannot ejaculate won't have to prove theirs?  Neither one will interfere in an employment setting.  I maintain, it is my issue, my business, my choice to tell or not.  I won't do it, I will not put myself in the same position as I did one previous time.

Even you... you are suggesting I tell them but would you suggest I tell them if I couldn't reach orgasm?  What's the difference?  Should *your* employer know that you are taking something to maintain an erection in case of a medical emergency?  (Clearly I am pulling examples out of the air, I have never met you and I am not suggesting you have this problem, I'm making up a scenario.)  How is it their business?  Are you making judgments about a disorder because of the treatment and it sounds weird?  It's a proven treatment.  I do not act any different from you when I take Dex.  Matter of fact, assuming you do not have ADD/ADHD if you take Dex your heart rate will increase, your speech will increase, you'll be jittery and hyper.  Not me, my speech slows down, I relax, and I am very calm.  Just like everyone else.  Nobody ever even knows I'm taking it.

Honestly, I'm not trying to put you on the spot or make it seem as though I don't appreciate your point of view.  I'm just making a point with the above.

>>(Is it actually Adderall?)<<

No, as I wrote it is Dexedrine although I have Adderall.  I like Dex better and the Adderall is probably too old to even keep around anymore.

>>Your interview process might be a little more challenging because of the facts you have laid out, but they shouldn't make it impossible for you to get the job you want<<

So you acknowledge that it would be harder to get the job if I told of a personal issue, right?  And my reason for doing this would be???? ;o)

Fair Chance...

>>I am in law enforcement and my applications in the past have only asked questions regarding "illegal" drugs.<<

Well, illegal drugs I am not worried about.  My concern is that when the issue of my Dexedrine comes up I get a wave of emotion.  When it was brought to my attention that what I take is a "meth users dream come true" suddenly I felt weird taking it.  I never thought of it in those terms.  Since I am assuming that a polygraph measures an emotional response (bp, pulse, etc.) then I am going to react to that question.  Five years ago I would not have, but today I probably will.  I have Rx's to prove it is for real, I have all that but I don't want to have to tell anyone about it.  I don't know how to avoid the emotional response.  Now when I think of Dexedrine I think of methamphetamines.

I could well be making something out of nothing.  Maybe my emotional response will not be discovered on a polygraph.  Heh... right. ;o)

>>Have any of your prospective employers wanted to know about what "prescription" drugs or over the counter drugs you are taking?<<

No, but I have never worked in a place that required a polygraph regarding drug use either.  I don't want to be dishonest, but I don't want to provide information that is none of their business.  BTDT and not doing it again.

>>I was only asked what prescription drugs that I was taking in relationship to how they would affect my polygraph results.  My answers were not documented in any permanent record.  At no other times was I asked about legal over-the-counter or prescription drugs.<<

I don't really know how Dex would affect my results, I'm not sure.

>>Is your question about what you need to disclose regarding a specific question on your employment application?<<

I'm just wondering what they will ask.  I've never done this before and haven't a clue what to expect.

Dear Michelle,

Your legal drug use is not the issue here.

Your fear (unfounded because they are legal) of how you will react to drug questions on a polygraph is already evident.  The polygraph operator is trained to be skeptical of any admissions (legal or otherwise) which are given in light of any "deceptive polygraph" results.  In your case, I think that he will be able to sense your body language or something else which might not even be related to polygraph readings due to the tension in your mind about the "unknown" during this process.

If this discussion on this board is raising any tensions in your mind, the polygraph experience will amplify it.

I do not believe in the validity of pre-screening polygraphs but the agencies that use it do.

Maybe you could find a department that does not require one.

Regards.

Fred...

>>I would like to direct some questions to you regarding your prescriptions. I have been a Pharmacy Tech for 24 years in CA<<

I am a CPhT.

>>In CA, any schedule II controlled susbstance script must be on a CA triplicate prescription form issued by the state, numbered, and with the doc's name preprinted on it<<

Actually things are quite a bit different in CA.  For example, the triplicate Rx requirements are on a state level, not federal.  We don't have that here.  Rx's for Class II's are on the same Rx format (actually, the same Rx) as any other Rx.  Ours are not numbered but the name is preprinted.  In my case (from the first post) since you are a Pharm Tech you'll understand the problem with this one.  I take 2 tid, #180/month.  The doc wrote for #180 2 bid.  I get the same thing every month but since it is a Class II it had to be called on for insurance reasons as well as federal law since it is a Class II.

>>I find it hard to believe that a doctor would issue you additional schedule II scripts to "not be filled" because you have an adequate supply<<

Believe whatever you wish, I have little reason to be dishonest here.  Now seriously, in this setting what would my reason be for dishonesty?

If I went to the doc for 20 minute med evals 4 times yearly and let's say the date is 2/18/03.  He would write three Rx's, one dated 2/18/03, 3/18/03, and 4/18/03.  That is the reason for quarterly appointments.  Frankly, I questioned the legality of this because it seemed odd to me but I certainly didn't want to change it either.  Why would I want to go there every month?  That would be silly.  I got differing opinions on this but as I said, I certainly didn't want it to change either.

Just recently I started going to a different doc and she does the same thing.  Not with 3 rx's but two.  My appt was 12/11 and she wrote two rx's both dated 12/11.

In my case I just don't take that many.  I don't usually need that many.  Matter of fact right now I have a bottle of 180 sitting in my bathroom cupboard, I have about 100 sitting next to me, and I have another rx I have yet to get filled, dated 12/11. (That's how I knew the date.)

All in all I am so sorry you are having a hard time believing this but ... what can I say?  I didn't post my question because I wanted people to believe me.  I just want to avoid telling a future employer about the drug.  I should  not have to do that.

I still maintain that it goes back to something like an enlarged prostate and Hytrin.  Do men have to reveal that on their pre-employment polygraph?  Nope.  They don't.  It could cause urinary retention and that could interfere with their job.  Not likely but it can happen.  It is equally as likely that my ADHD will interfere with my job.  I shouldn't  have to reveal that, it is not their business.

>>You do realize that you put yourself in a precarious position by having those prescriptions around the house, you should destroy them or return them to your doctor<<

We are going to have to agree to disagree about that one.  I'm not about to ask if I can go to the doc monthly when I can go quarterly.  If you want to go to a doc more often for some reason that is your choice but I have no desire to do so.

Funny thing, the only time I have had a problem with an Rx for Dex is at work.  Due to the nature of the drug I would choose not to enter it into the computer or have anything to do with the fill.  One time a coworker entered it and then happened to get off work.  Later we discovered the Rx was gone.  Long story short, she stole the hard copy, had it filled at a different pharmacy and then attempted suicide that night by OD'ing on the drug.  It didn't work.

I don't have a problem at home and nobody but close friends even know I take it.  I learned years and years ago not to tell people because they disappear out of my purse, they disappear from my home... any time I have a lot of people over they seemed to disappear.  So, I take appropriate precautions.  Considering I am 40 years old now I feel there is little need for my doc to hold the Rx's for me.  Honest, I can keep them and in all these years I haven't lost one yet.  Just one stolen Rx and that was in the pharmacy.  You know, where they are safe?  

>>You have to tell them because if your background investigator checks into your medical history<<

Nahhh... not for a dispatcher.  I don't believe they even do that type of a background check for sworn officers.

>>you are at risk of being DQ'ed for not dislcosing your ADHD and medication use. BE HONEST WITH YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY. Having ADHD and being medicated for it WILL NOT DQ you. Not disclosing it WILL<<

Nope, I'm not going to do it.  It is personal and it is none of their business.  When men start telling their employers of their prostate problems and drug use I might consider talking about ADHD but neither one is an employers business.

If I had a history of a felony, I stole from every employer, I never earned a dime in my life but robbed people instead... sure!  That would be different.  But my medical conditions are not the business of an employer.  I am NOT going to have a repeat of what happened a few years ago.  It isn't going to happen.  I learned my lesson then, it wasn't just the accusation of forging an Rx... that was easy to prove that I did not do.  I was also questioned about how I take it.  It is clear from the computer that I did not get it filled on a regular basis ... again because I don't take that many.  When I explained that I was then asked why I didn't take them on a regular basis.  Lucky for me I had a witness to this conversation (someone outside waiting to see the person questioning me) and considering this was OSCO pharmacy (just bought out by Albertsons at the time) they were afraid of lawsuits and they couldn't be nice enough to me.  After I quit they continued paying my insurance for another 6 months.  They apologized... they did try to make up for what was done but the damage was done and the humiliation was also done, there was no going back.  I could have sued them, instead I just wanted it behind me and I have not told *any* employer of ADHD or Dex since that time.  I will not do so in the future.

Michelle, I have to say that everyone, pro and anti-polygraph have given you consistent information that you choose not to accept.  That is okay....for it is your choice.  I really see two issues here...first (and perhaps foremost) is your health and well being...and the safety of those around you and those who are on the receiving end of your position as a dispatcher (it IS a n extremely important role).  I believe someone (my old adversary Beech Trees I think) said that if there was any risk of your having an "event" at work, those around you would need to know how to treat you. You should be able to appreciate that given your background as a phamacy tech.  I would disagree with you about divulging other meds.  If there wasa problem (you seem to indicate it is a problem when you discuss this "wave" of emotion).  If I had a cardiac event and the EMT's wanted to know what meds I was taking so that they could treat me properly, I wouldn't be sqeamish about telling them I was taking something for ED.  pharsee the single biggest problem. Secondly, I believe YOU have made this an issue by your defensive discussions posted here. You apparently were not treated correctly (or fairly) by your former employer, but you have chosen to deal with it in the mannner you described.  Maybe you should just look at another line of work.  Don't make yourself a martyr over this.  I am sure you would make an excellent dispatcher, but under all of the circumstances outlined, it probably isn't worth the grief to you.  I am just grateful (and pleased to tell the truth)that no one suggested to you that you read "the" book and practice countermeasures....at least the anti-polygraphers have shown some degree of ethical behavior.  Thought I would never say this, but I am proud of them....on this point.


Michelle, I apologize...Iam afraid I "fat fingered" my key board a bit.  I will try to clear up any confusion I created.

Please disregard the line which states
" pharsee the single biggest problem".  Hope that clears it up.

michelle,
take it easy, deep breath.... (I'm not being sarcastic). You let a message board get you all worked up. I'm not sure how in depth Background Investigations are for dispatchers, but for the most part, they'll be more focused on other aspects of your life.
If I were in your shoes and chose not to tell them about a medical condition that would not affect my job performance, then I wouldn't.  Chances are they won't dig that deep unless you provide them with the information. The only problem with trying to conceal anything in your background that will be insignificant to them is that they will give you the old, "Well if you're trying to hide something so insignificant, what else are you trying to hide". Just have a real legit reason, and maybe they'll let it slide, that is if they ever find out.
Also be aware that you will get a medical exam, usually just a physical like at your normal doctors (to make sure everything is where it is suppose to be). There will also be a drug test, might want to do some research on this, but as far as I know, they test the samples for certain illegal drugs. Not test the sample and then see what comes up.  Like I said do a bit more research.
Good Luck,
Taz