That dreaded question...

Published

  1. What would you say?

    • 7
      Yes, and emphasize my recovery and successful employment
    • 7
      No
    • 1
      Yes, and personally contact HR to further discuss
    • 0
      Yes, and emphasize something else (please explain)
    • 0
      Leave blank and contact them personally

15 members have participated

Need some advice here...this is going to be the longest post I have ever written but I would be so grateful if you are willing to wade through it and help...

I have been in recovery for over 6 years, and competed my states confidential monitoring program successfully over a year ago. I did get caught diverting way back when, but was allowed to go on medical leave and eventually was "terminated" (not even sure if that means fired or just let go) from the system due to not being medically cleared to return when my fmla was up. I am eligible for rehire there and at all my former workplaces. I was not reported to the DEA (I believe possibly due to an oversight or mistake but not sure, but I know I wasn't reported) and in my state if you compete monitoring as I did the board never knows anything about it and your license shows nothing. I have no criminal charges. Basically, there is no paper trail (my monitoring program record now identifies me as only a number, no name. )

Fast forward. I have been successfully employed after the diversion for over six years, have handled narcotics the whole time, and have had no slips, either involving work or on my own time. My performance reviews are excellent. I have a chance at a job with the government, in a field I have always been interested in. At this point in my life it's an ideal job for me. I am through the first interview and was told I did well and I competed the initial application which was excellent per them.

Now I was given an unexpected supplemental application. Most of it is just consents to background checks which I know will be clear. However there are a few other questions, one about gang affiliation (which I have never been a part of) and one asking if you have ever been addicted to substances and if yes to explain.

I KMOW that lying on an application is very bad and grounds for immediate dismissal and will totally leave me no chance at getting the job if they find out. But I strongly suspect that a yes answer will lose the job for me also (even if it didn't automatically disqualify me the applicant pool is competitive and I feel it would bring me down). I also know that the only way they would ever know the truth if I did answer no would be if my former mgr told them which they have never told any other jobs calling for references and it is very very unlikely they would do it now. Basically I am reasonably sure they will never know unless I tell them.

SO. Thank you for reading all this first of all. I'm sure you can guess what my dilemma is. My husband thinks if I say yes and emphasize my recovery that it could be a positive as the population I would be working with has a high rate of addiction. As I said, I believe a yes answer would be job suicide. I have never lied on an application before but I really feel that my past is behind me and not their business. Unfortunately I am all to familiar with the sigma around addicts and I know many would disagree. When I was in monitoring I had many job offers rescinded when they learned I was in recovery.

What would you do? If anyone has been in this situation and is willing to share what they did and what the outcome was I would greatly appreciate it. If there are any hiring managers out there what is your take? I am really torn on this...as I said I am always honest but I have a very bad feeling about this.

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Thats none of their business- this is a health problem. Its basically asking a question like "Have you ever had an STD"...

The question isn't asked out of caring- its a risk management technique, and they will not hire you if it is a "yes"

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

I totally empathize with the ethical dilemma, and I also feel it is wrong for employees to ask those kind of questions. (((hug)))

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I recently filled out a job application that asked an entire page of questions about alcohol abuse, if you drink in the morning, feel you need it to relax, etc.

Like anyone would say yes?

I feel it was completely out of line.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Float Pool Nursing.

There's seriously no point in saying you have been addicted. It doesn't help you or the. It just hurts you. Why be truthful if it's going to be harmful ?

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Not being truthful with a government job and them finding out, which mind you they have their ways, will put you in a world of trouble. Im a recovering nurse too. I know how hard this is and Im just saying this to help you out.

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Not being truthful with a government job and them finding out, which mind you they have their ways, will put you in a world of trouble. Im a recovering nurse too. I know how hard this is and Im just saying this to help you out.

Thank you to everyone who read this and replied. In response to the above- I am WELL aware of the consequences of being caught in a lie on an application. I have never lied before for a job. However I am also well aware of the stigma about addiction. I am not asking if it is ok to lie on an application. I just feel that a yes answer to this question will automatically disqualify me from the job and want to know what others think about this.

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Well, I received learned that there is a third party company that gives information regarding a persons history of being in a monitoring program....not cool. :(

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You have to be true to yourself first. If you answer honestly you may not get the job. Maybe it was not really the best job for you then. If you answer honestly you may get the job. Maybe it was the perfect job for you. There is no way to know the correct answer. However if you stay true to you, no matter what happens you will hold your head high. There are people out there that will not hire you because of your past. There are people out there who will hire you because of your past. And then there are people who don't care one way or the other. I am guessing one of the things you have gained by your journey is to listen to your gut, that voice in your head that knows the correct answer for you.

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I'm generally a pretty honest person but truth is relevant. Just because you've undergone treatment for substance abuse doesn't necessarily mean you were "addicted" to anything. "Addicted" is a strong word. If I were you, I'd mark no and roll on. If your record of treatment does catch up with you and HR calls, you can claim that your were not addicted but merely a recreational user, you've been clean for 6 years and there's not much they can do because you answered their question truthfully. I believe that 90% of what HR tells new hires are lies, and new hires sometimes have to use the same tactics. It's a strange dance, but if you want a job you'd best learn the moves.

Bottom line: find a truth you can live with and dare anybody to challenge you on it.

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Well, I received learned that there is a third party company that gives information regarding a persons history of being in a monitoring program....not cool. :(

May I ask what state this is in and how this company gains this info? In the state where I did my monitoring the board never finds out, nothing ever goes on your license including while you are in the program, anything with your name on it in your file with the monitoring program is redacted to show only a number and the only people who know unless you choose to tell someone else is the docs and supervisor who sign your forms- and at the bottom of those forms is a warning in red stating this is confidential health info and revealing it is violation of state and federal law.

Does this third party company have a website?

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.
I'm generally a pretty honest person but truth is relevant. Just because you've undergone treatment for substance abuse doesn't necessarily mean you were "addicted" to anything. "Addicted" is a strong word. If I were you, I'd mark no and roll on. If your record of treatment does catch up with you and HR calls, you can claim that your were not addicted but merely a recreational user, you've been clean for 6 years and there's not much they can do because you answered their question truthfully. I believe that 90% of what HR tells new hires are lies, and new hires sometimes have to use the same tactics. It's a strange dance, but if you want a job you'd best learn the moves.

Bottom line: find a truth you can live with and dare anybody to challenge you on it.

Also , just a thought... if the op had ever legitimately been prescribed opiates ( assuming that's the doc) , she could claim she was, what NATURALLY Happens, she became PHYSICALLY DEPENDANT, and felt safer if she got professional help to wean off them... I do know of someone that had this happen to them, it's the answer they gave, and it WAS accepted, because it absolutely can happen that way

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