If you are a recovered drug addict (with a record on file) will that keep you from becoming a doctor? Could a recovered drug addict be accepted into pharmacy school? Do they even check whether potential med students have criminal records?
Just curious.
To be even a part-time college student, I had to list on the application if I’d ever been convicted of a crime, and the nature of the offense. This may not be the case everywhere, but in NC we had a particularly ugly stalking/murder by a student with a prior criminal record, so they are asking now.
After enrolling in a (non-medical) degree program, I was asked to provide a health history, which would have given me the opportunity to disclose a drug addiction. However, AFAIK it was up to me what I wanted to say on the health history, except the immunizations which needed to be signed by a doctor.
Not a complete answer to your question, but I hope it is helpful.
There is a form on the med school application for previous felony convictions. You can find it here after registering (AMCAS is the centralized application server for most US medical schools). I don’t know that they ask specifically about drug and alcohol convictions.
Not necessarially. I know of one instance where a former addict entered medical school. I will not provide details, but I will say that that individual’s past and present were given extremely thorough scrutiny.
So it’s possible to become an MD with such a history but you’re going to have to convince the higher-ups that you can be trusted now despite a sordid past. Or at least it was in the past - times have changed.
It’s probably much easier to become an addict once you have your license.
Seriously- it is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Same with the legal bar.
Im thinking insurance would be a major headache even if you were allowed to study?
Otara
Considering some mentioned having to disclose if they have been convicted of any felonies, it seems possible due to the fact that many drug and alcohol convictions are misdemeanors.
What kind of file are you talking about? A person does not go to jail for being an addict but for somethihng they do, like sell the stuff or DUI’s etc.
It can be claimed that if you have been in rehab, that is a record. There is no paper that says you are a recovered addict tha tI know of.
If you have been in a state run institution for addiction, they I guess you have a record but most folks want to know if you have a criminal record.
If you have never been arrested and volunteered to go to rehab, you would be on much firmer ground.
I know many doctors and pilots that are recovering addicts and the FAA and the AMA know they are. Mostly they became addicts and go into recovery after they became pilots or doctors or at least that is when the went to rehab on their own or were sent.
Some private rehabs will not give out patient info. I do not know about state run places.
Felony convictions of any stripe are a tough thing to get past as far a getting into med school is concerned.
YMMV
A history of chemical dependency/alcoholism won’t keep one out of med school per se. That would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Acts. However, if the behavior of the individual with the chem dep resulted in felony convictions, or other problems which would keep any individual out of med school, the schools are free to decline the candidate.
They could also boot the student out if they relapsed.
But I’ve known folks in recovery get into, and complete medical school. And stay clean and sober doing it.