The Medical Advisory Board...Are you kidding me?

[Surgeon]

The Back Story:
I completed my course, training and sent in my application paperwork and fees on December 19, 2015. I made note about being treated for "Anxiety" about 8 years ago in anticipation to a job layoff. I went to a Dr. and he prescribed a 30 day supply of Xanax (Alprazolam) as needed for anxiety. Three pills later and tossed the bottle and found another job. Please NOTE: (I made no attempt to hide anything and was being as honest as I possibly could).

I got a letter from TX Dept. of Public Safety, dated February 24, 2016, letting me know that my application is being "forwarded to the Medical Advisory Board for their evaluation"

On the letter it lists : Authority to perform this review is in accordance with the Texas Handgun Law, Government Code, Chapter 411, Sub-chapter H, and the Health and Safety Code, Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter 12, Sub chapter H. " Due to a self reported medical or abuse problem or information involving a medical problem which has surfaced during our routine background investigation, it is necessary to forward a copy of your application to the Medical Advisory Board for their evaluation". If further information is required, other than what has been submitted at time of application, the Medical Advisory Board will be in contact with you.

My question: Are-You-Kidding-ME ? Eight Years ago and some Doctor "PRESCRIBED" XANAX ????? Okay that really wasn't my question that was just me reacting in a state of utter disbelief.
So, what in the wild world of sports happens now? Psych test or eval ? For what its worth I'm a professional pharmaceutical sales & medical sales rep. for Pete's sake and this line of wording makes it appear that I'm a junkie, pill pusher or substance abuser.
And of course I've called about a dozen times with no getting through.

Any suggestions? Oh and please don't tell me I should have omitted that part on my application.

[JP171]

ummm ok I won't

[dorevaha]

I also had this issue from going to a treatment center seventeen years ago. Just call the lady at the Medical Advisory Board and make sure that you supply what ever they request. I had to have a form filled out from my doctor with a release form. They could not find anything my doctor had mailed them and I had to email all the documents again. Be sure to make copies of everything in case this happens. I had a four month wait before my license was issued.

[mojo84]

I bet any time something is listed it automatically gets kicked over to them. It will probably be no big deal.

[Surgeon]

I also had this issue from going to a treatment center seventeen years ago. Just call the lady at the Medical Advisory Board and make sure that you supply what ever they request. I had to have a form filled out from my doctor with a release form. They could not find anything my doctor had mailed them and I had to email all the documents again. Be sure to make copies of everything in case this happens. I had a four month wait before my license was issued.

Do you happen to have a contact number for them?

[Surgeon]

I bet any time something is listed it automatically gets kicked over to them. It will probably be no big deal.

I hope you're right. This is really a non issue but that's just my opinion and we all know what that counts for.

[lildave40]

Oh and please don't tell me I should have omitted that part on my application.


OKAY

[Surgeon]

Oh and please don't tell me I should have omitted that part on my application.


OKAY

Not gonna lie...I'm not a politician.

[parabelum]

Yea, I think that you'll be fine, it will be just a bit of a delay.

The questions are, what type of anxiety do you have, not all anxiety cases are same, and does it prevent you from excercising sound judgment?

You know, given the occupational stress, some LEO's have anxiety, sleep disorders etc. that is pharmacologically treated. But, they are monitored by the Medical Board.

I know of two personally, and maybe LE members we have here can share their take on this as well.

[Breny414]

It's just the process you have to go through because you listed it on your application. And, no doubt, you will be approved once they review it. I'm interested to know if you'll even have to send them anything other than a statement from you.

Other than the above... you overthought the app

[Surgeon]

Yea, I think that you'll be fine, it will be just a bit of a delay.

The questions are, what type of anxiety do you have, not all anxiety cases are same, and does it prevent you from excercising sound judgment?

You know, given the occupational stress, some LEO's have anxiety, sleep disorders etc. that is pharmacologically treated. But, they are monitored by the Medical Board.

I know of two personally, and maybe LE members we have here can share their take on this as well.

I'm sure some suffer from more than just anxiety. Like severe depression with all the gruesome sights they have to deal with and from having to draw their service weapon and fire at an armed suspect. Difficult to recover from that.

[Surgeon]

It's just the process you have to go through because you listed it on your application. And, no doubt, you will be approved once they review it. I'm interested to know if you'll even have to send them anything other than a statement from you.

Other than the above... you overthought the app

I'm not sure I over thought the app. I was just told to be sure and list any and everything....so I did.

[GlassG19]

The Back Story:
I completed my course, training and sent in my application paperwork and fees on December 19, 2015. I made note about being treated for "Anxiety" about 8 years ago in anticipation to a job layoff. I went to a Dr. and he prescribed a 30 day supply of Xanax (Alprazolam) as needed for anxiety. Three pills later and tossed the bottle and found another job. Please NOTE: (I made no attempt to hide anything and was being as honest as I possibly could).

I got a letter from TX Dept. of Public Safety, dated February 24, 2016, letting me know that my application is being "forwarded to the Medical Advisory Board for their evaluation"

On the letter it lists : Authority to perform this review is in accordance with the Texas Handgun Law, Government Code, Chapter 411, Sub-chapter H, and the Health and Safety Code, Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter 12, Sub chapter H. " Due to a self reported medical or abuse problem or information involving a medical problem which has surfaced during our routine background investigation, it is necessary to forward a copy of your application to the Medical Advisory Board for their evaluation". If further information is required, other than what has been submitted at time of application, the Medical Advisory Board will be in contact with you.

My question: Are-You-Kidding-ME ? Eight Years ago and some Doctor "PRESCRIBED" XANAX ????? Okay that really wasn't my question that was just me reacting in a state of utter disbelief.
So, what in the wild world of sports happens now? Psych test or eval ? For what its worth I'm a professional pharmaceutical sales & medical sales rep. for Pete's sake and this line of wording makes it appear that I'm a junkie, pill pusher or substance abuser.
And of course I've called about a dozen times with no getting through.

Any suggestions? Oh and please don't tell me I should have omitted that part on my application.

Ummm, I think you did the right thing,, except list a type of Dr. you went to visit & the type of meds & for what purpose. Other than that you did good. From what I've read and many others interputation from reading the laws, that if haven't been diognosed to be blind, crippled, or crazy, or aren't a dope head or dope slinger or a mass murder or in & out of hospitals for BiPolor & any sort, then I wouldn't have wrote the Xanax down. Are you any of the above? NOPE, then you know the rest of the sentence.
No worries though, it will come in about 4-6 months.
Please keep us posted.
Best luck to ya!

[joe817]

Surgeon, I think you did the right & honest thing. I've always been a believer in full disclosure and that's exactly what you did. I applaud you for your honesty.

It will probably mean a delay, IMO, with perhaps a letter from your doctor that may be required, but in the end I strongly believe you will be approved.

Best of luck to you.

[cb1000rider]

I've found, in my experience with the government (FAA), that two things will get you in trouble:
1) Over reporting.
2) Under reporting.

Technically, there should be no such thing as over-reporting, but like you, I've found that if I report any treatment that the government tends to view it in as a "worst possible scenario". That triggers a whole new round of not-medically-necessary tests / DR visits, which are often not covered by insurance, to prove to the government that we're not talking about worst case. Talk about a waste of time and resources.

After my last experience with that - I now indicate to my doctor what I want him to write on the chart and what words to avoid. The reason for that is, if the government needs those records to evaluate a condition that the records support my case in an un-ambigous way. If I get flagged, my charts do not say "chronic" and use words like "temporary".

As near as I can tell in the CHL case, under reporting doesn't actually get you in trouble, it just causes delay. I'm NOT encouraging you to under-report. But a single prescription of Xanax 8 years ago, 30-days use, probably indicates that you're more sane and actually take care of yourself better than most people. If everyone actually disclosed their prescription history for all time, let alone the last 10 years, my guess is the system would grind to a halt...

Thanks for doing the right thing.

<Largely, this is a frustrated rant>