drugs and employment

[skbum23]

Does anyone know how much previous drug use plays in the hiring of new police officers. I used when I was in high school, never thinking of becoming an officer, but I am now a Senior in College and it has been almost 2 years since I last used(Marijuana, and Opium(twice w/Mariuana)) Any advise or knowledge please let me know.

thanks

[patrolman]

Depends on how much you used. Some PDs have a policy on how much is to much. You need to call the PD you are intersted in and ask a BI, I wouldnt waste my time on a PD that you are going to get DQ for anyway. On the other hand some PDs have a time span such as no drug use in the past 5 years. So there is still hope. Good luck

[Time Traveller]

I think a lot of federal agencies have removed the zero tolerance issues, but have put in a time frame of last usage and frequency. I believe that it is upwards of not in the last 5 or 10 years and no more than 5 to 10 times. I really think that MJ is probably about it. If you say you used opium you are probably out of luck (but i'm not sure, I came on so long ago), but you must be truthful, if your not and you get in and then they find out about it, you will be fired for lack of candor on your application.

[ATF SAC]

Although you will see slight varience among Fed agencies ours is kind of typical on the strict side. For gun toters, no Schedule I through V (Section 312, Title 21 USC)in the applicant's lifetime, except for marijuana. With mj not in the past three years, no more than ten times ever and never,ever after the age of 24 and never ever while employed as a public safety, law enforcement or prosecutorial official.

No sales, no manufacture of anything.