Medical DQ for substance abuse

It's also a hassle in the unlikely event you're caught in the lie. Say goodbye to ever being able to hold a government job or security clearance required position for the rest of your life.

Not also pointing out the other side of the coin of what can happen when you lie on your sf86 does a disservice to those seeking advice.
Yeah man the FAA is totally going to be able to prove you got high 542 days ago in your buddies basement or you can work at mcdonalds the rest of your life.
 
How are they going to catch you without a conviction?
Yeah man the FAA is totally going to be able to prove you got high 542 days ago in your buddies basement or you can work at mcdonalds the rest of your life.
If for some reason your security investigator decides he needs to do some digging and starts talking to people you've listed. The friend from college who knew you that you put down might mention recreational drug use if asked.

Like I said, unlikely that happens. Really what I'm getting here is that if you're gonna give someone advice to lie to the government then you should also mention what happens if you get caught in that lie.
 
If for some reason your security investigator decides he needs to do some digging and starts talking to people you've listed. The friend from college who knew you that you put down might mention recreational drug use if asked.

Like I said, unlikely that happens. Really what I'm getting here is that if you're gonna give someone advice to lie to the government then you should also mention what happens if you get caught in that lie.
I’d rather be in a he said she said then just admitting it. Plus he got DQd for his medical
 
It's also a hassle in the unlikely event you're caught in the lie. Say goodbye to ever being able to hold a government job or security clearance required position for the rest of your life.

Not also pointing out the other side of the coin of what can happen when you lie on your sf86 does a disservice to those seeking advice.
I mean its an internet forum so take a random person's advice with a grain of salt. There's been a few stories on here of people getting barred from holding a medical for admitting to drug usage. Haven't seen someone post about the FAA randomly investigating into the background of someone's possible drug use history.
 
I’d rather be in a he said she said then just admitting it. Plus he got DQd for his medical

True. The repercussions for lying are steep though however unlikely the chance is of getting caught.

I mean its an internet forum so take a random person's advice with a grain of salt. There's been a few stories on here of people getting barred from holding a medical for admitting to drug usage. Haven't seen someone post about the FAA randomly investigating into the background of someone's possible drug use history.
Absolutely. You're probably already setting yourself up for failure if you're asking random strangers if you should lie or not. It's much more likely someone gets away with not admitting drug use vs getting caught not disclosing. The cost is high if you are caught.
 
True. The repercussions for lying are steep though however unlikely the chance is of getting caught.


Absolutely. You're probably already setting yourself up for failure if you're asking random strangers if you should lie or not. It's much more likely someone gets away with not admitting drug use vs getting caught not disclosing. The cost is high if you are caught.
Also I would never list someone that would say those things. If the investigator wanted to dig that deep then I can’t stop them but will they? Most of us never even got interviewed.
 
True. The repercussions for lying are steep though however unlikely the chance is of getting caught.


Absolutely. You're probably already setting yourself up for failure if you're asking random strangers if you should lie or not. It's much more likely someone gets away with not admitting drug use vs getting caught not disclosing. The cost is high if you are caught.
You’re right you have to jot out the ole trusty pros and cons Venn diagram and make your decision off that.
But to the guy who is in the pickle, I hope you get it taken care of without too much hardship. I know a few people who have gone through the HIMS program, and although it’s a little costly, they all made it through and got their Medicals.
 
It's also a hassle in the unlikely event you're caught in the lie. Say goodbye to ever being able to hold a government job or security clearance required position for the rest of your life.
This poor bastard won’t get a job yet people already in with way worse on their actual record keep theirs. I know quite a few with dui, domestics and assaults and the faa can’t get rid of them and the faa absolutely should.
 
I made the suggestion of never straight up telling the FAA yeah I smoked pot in college or anything along those lines.
Plus he got DQd for his medical

The background investigation is not the problem here; they try to look at a "whole person" concept and the final determination is made by an FAA employee, I'm pretty sure—they take the report from the NBIB (or DOD now) and decide what to do with it. Smoking pot isn't a huge deal as long as you don't tell them you intend to keep doing it.

Like OP found out, the big deal is disclosing to the flight surgeon (by way of the AME) that you aBuSeD DrUgS in the past two years. They come down on you hard for that.
 
Some advice from a retired guy. Your medical is your ticket, period. You lose that at any point in your career, everything becomes a mess! Every yearly exam you get becomes a bit more stressful as you get older. How you fill out that form, what you tell the AME and your recent medical history is important to the FAA. They don't care about your well being, they just want to avoid being sued! Be very careful about what you reveal and how you say it. I never lied on those things, but I never told the whole "truth" either. Don't get a DUI and keep your medical information between you and your GP. The end game is worth the work!
 
The real unfortunate thing is that the FAA Medical folks have bred a culture of "Don't tell the FAA shit". Absolutely no one is perfect, unless you're from the LDS Church and then you're "too perfect". The system is broken.
 
The real unfortunate thing is that the FAA Medical folks have bred a culture of "Don't tell the FAA shit". Absolutely no one is perfect, unless you're from the LDS Church and then you're "too perfect". The system is broken.
This is true for ATC and pilots as well. Be very careful what you disclose.
 
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