Hi DrBill100;

In a bit of a pickle with my school situation; I had a rotation at an experiential site go bad and now I'm stuck in limbo. The last time I drank was Wednesday evening (DEC. 7th); I had a 22 oz mug of beer (5% alcohol maybe) with a steak dinner at about 6:00 P.M, then about 32 oz. Of wine (9.5% alcohol) between about 7 and 9:30 PM and then a 12 oz beer (3.2%) at about 10:30 PM. The next day, I get a call from an impaired professional program wanting me to come in for an evaluation on the 13th at 11 AM(I've been tested for all kinds of stuff like ADD, Auditory Processing Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders since this started, and now it looks like they're looking for drugs). I've read a little bit about ETG testing and bought alcohol free mouthwash and avoiding hand sanitizer and cleaners to try and minimize incidental exposure. I know my BAC will be 0, but will I be able to pass an ETG test if I am given one?

There should be no EtG in your system. I just threw in 12 hours to BAC = 0 and you still have 120 hr elimination time. More than enough time.

There's nothing within your description that points to a drinking problem and I don't wish to be presumptuous but if you feel that drinking plays any role in your problem that information should be introduced into the assessment process and not avoided.

I mention that only because a couple of the conditions you mentioned, CAPD and depression, can be caused, exacerbated altered or masked by excessive drinking.

Thanks for the answer DrBill, I can rest a little easier knowing that.

To elaborate a little on my situation, they started doing all these tests and put me on suspension until further notice in late October. All of the tests I mentioned above were negative; personally, since drugs/alcohol was not a factor in my rotations, I feel that the possibility of a bad rotation or personality conflict is being overlooked.

The referral came about with a recent background check. I was arrested for DUI about two years ago (was going through a rough break up and was making stupid decisions), however, it was deferred and will soon be expungable. The school made everyone do a background check and the arrest showed up. Everybody makes mistakes, and as I mentioned before, in my rotation this was not an issue, as I only drink on rare occasions anymore and certainly do not drive if I have. I do not have a drinking problem and have no problem with giving up alcohol; however, I'm hoping they don't place me on a monitoring program if it is not absolutely necessary because simply the record of having to go through something like that looks bad when you graduate and are looking for a job :s. I honestly don't know what they will do in my case; although a negative ETG test will be favorable I'm sure.

An EtG test in your case would serve no viable purpose but it is a staple in many of the licensed professional diversion programs so it may occur. With your avoidance of incidental exposure and the time frame of what you did drink you will be clean as a whistle.

I wish you the best and hope you work through this as fast as possible.

I do ask, is no drinking part of your student requirements. Or just no drinking during shift rotation?

It should not be illegal just to drink ( if you are old enough) and as long as it was not drinking during that time frame, which this would not show when anyway.

Thanks DrBill I hope so too! It seems kind of crappy to me to have to pay for the same mistake more than once if that's what they decide to do, but I suppose it beats the alternative of getting kicked out of school.

Fr_Chuck, no, it is not required of students not to drink unless you are on some monitoring program such as what might happen in my situation. True, you would think something like that would apply just to rotations; in my case, the incidents are unrelated. Until I know for sure what's going to happen, I'm preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.