Adderall and Future Careers.

[Mercyfulfate]

Hello everyone, I wanted to tap the vast knowledge bank of wisdom here and see if I could get some insight. I am currently in college and take a low dosage of Adderall, 20mg XR and 10mg IR. I only take the 20mg three or four days a week, and the IR on class days themselves or when studying. I am not ADD/ADHD, even though that is what it says on my prescription. Rather I have a math learning disability called Dyscalculia. More or less anything numbers based just takes me a hell of a lot longer than most people to grasp the concept of, something Adderall seems to help with.

I was wondering if my taking this will limit future career possibilities? I know the military is out as long as I am on the meds, but are there other organizations that you all know of that would disqualify you? I am interested in pursuing a career in Law Enforcement, and I am worried that my college years of taking this will ruin my chances. I can go off of it no problem after school, I am just curious if they will worry about my mental state since I ever had to take it.

So has anyone ever heard of people encountering obstacles in this line of work and the medication? Google brings up various opposing views and situations so I am really not sure what to believe. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Flory]

you dont have add/adhd....but you are taking a stimulant ? Did you obtain this prescription by feigning add/adhd ?

my words of advice to you would be; if you dont have add/adhd stop taking the medicine so you can declare you have been off medicine for x many months/years/weeks or whatever

[Mercyfulfate]

Originally Posted by Flory

you dont have add/adhd....but you are taking a stimulant ? Did you obtain this prescription by feigning add/adhd ?

my words of advice to you would be; if you dont have add/adhd stop taking the medicine so you can declare you have been off medicine for x many months/years/weeks or whatever

Nope, I do not have it. As I said, it was found early on to greatly aid me with my Dyscalculia. Initially in middle school I was lumped in with the ADD/ADHD crowd because of my behaviors with any math related discipline. That started to not add up however when they looked at the bigger picture and saw I excelled in everything else. Long story short, while they were throwing me on the medicine merry-go-round it was discovered that adderall helped me focus on math related work to a level that previously my mind just wanted to terminate itself on.

[stealthology]

I think it would absolutely make it tougher. I have a friend who graduated criminal justice at VCU a couple years ago, has been looking for a LEO job and hasn't been offered a job yet. I say ask some agencies straight up how it affects their hiring decisions.

Madderall rage and being in cop situations don't really seem like they'd mesh well.

[Drewbacca]

There are few fields that specify stimulant medication as disqualifying. Even in the military (US), it is allowed in most job positions now... the nuclear field is one of the few that still prohibit stimulants (or any psych medication) for that matter. Even then, there is a year long no-medication requirement... which will grant a waiver for someone to join.

If you only needed the meds to get through school and don't need them for daily therapeutic use, then I wouldn't worry about it at all. Otherwise, just call around and ask.

[Flory]

Largely its the ADD/ADHD diagnosis and what that carries with it rather than the meds that seem to effect employment (that and the incredible difficulties adhd'ers have with all elements of employment in the first instance)

[Zevispaz]

Just don't tell them. Your medical records aren't public information.

Stay off it a couple weeks to a month before you apply so it won't show up in a drug test.

[Twiggy]

Law enforcement and military jobs can look at your medical records and ask you about your psychological condition. They need to know if you can do your job and not crack under pressure.

I know for a fact that law enforcement has a portion to their interview dedicated to psychological/mental questions in order to make sure you're mentally fit for it.