Screening

[STRENGTH&HONOR]

I'm stressing over the whole screening process. I'm highly qualified for the position-- military experience, bachelor of science, top 10% of my class, etc. However, I'm worried about the polygraph. I plan to tell the truth-- I smoked marijuana a few times in hs (almost ten years ago) and I have a couple of traffic tickets (five years ago).

Here is the real issue. I have taken many health/performance supplements including norandro/prohormones. I believe this will make me test positive for illegal steroids (which I have never taken). I don't think most pd's test for steroids, but I am worried that I will fail the poly when asked about steroids because prohormones essentially do the same thing as steroids. They are harmful to your body and probably will be illegal in the near future.

What should I do? Bring up the issue before the poly or only if questioned after?

[AzAtrox]

....bring the issue up BEFORE the polygraph! Basically, you want to be completely up-front about everything (especially something of this nature).....You run a risk when you don't bring it up yourself....If the BI finds out about it via a spiked poly or drug test, he/she is going to want to know why you weren't up front about it in the first place....At that point, you've placed yourself on quite the slippery slope in explaining it......

If the substances you took were not illegal, and you can pass a phyiscial/medical exam administered by the department, then I just don't see how taking this substance and telling the department about it can harm you....On the other hand, if they find out about it from means other than you, you might be DQ'd right then and there.....

-Just my .02

-AzAtrox

[RoscoeRuhl]

Never assume that you're "highly qualified"! That's a matter of opinion. If you think it's going to be a problem, it will and you probably need to ask about it. The process is difficult enough and you don't need the stress. If you wait until you're questioned about an issue, it's because the issue was raised (not by you) and another problem will result. In the screening process, you'll be asked about drug or substance use and you should probably disclose the information then. If it's a problem, it will be raised and you can explain it. As far as substance testing is concerned, policies differ with the agency. If you test positive for steroids, you're going to have to either show they were lawfully obtained and used or do some serious dancing!

Have a great day!