What options does my friend have after he failed a MEPS urinalysis due to a prescription medication?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:09:07 -0400

Buddy of mine failed the drug test due to having Benzodiazepine on his system because he was on prescribed weight loss supplements. The recruiter kind of gave up on him because of that and he wants to know what options he has in regards to enlisting.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 8:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:10:38 -0400

If he had a valid prescription and produced the prescription to MEPS, then that was not what caused the failure.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 8:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:15:57 -0400

If the Benzo was an ingredient in the prescribed weight loss supplement, and the prescription is valid, then documentation just needs to be provided to justify/explain the positive result

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 8:21 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:21:43 -0400

Your friend was on a prescription drug. Why did he answer no when he was asked if he was taking any prescription drugs?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 9:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 21:14:22 -0400

Sorry, but this one smells funky. There are no weight loss supplements that include benzos. Benzos are a highly controlled substance which are only available through prescription. At the MEPS you are required to disclose all drups prior to the urinalysis. There is no way that a person was taking an over the counter drug that unknowingly contained benzos and if they were prescribed Benzos and knew it then they failed to disclose it. Same concept as revealing everything in a security clearance questionnaire

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 10:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 22:49:59 -0400

Well benzodiazepine is a seductive and has zero weight loss properties so it sounds like your friend is full of it. Be zoo slow down the body’s metabolism which is the opposite of what you want when attempting to loose weight. Also a letter from a real medical doctor would be on som sort of official letter head not randomly typed in that way that can be altered and come from anyone. Not sure you friend is the right material right now

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Oct 16 at 2020 1:31 AM

CPT Andrew Wright — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 01:31:21 -0400

Tell your friend to get into college and find a good civilian career field. Benzodiazepines are frequently used for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorder. I am willing to bet his Disqualification at MEPS is permanent due to an undisclosed mental history and drug use. That's why the Recruiter lost interest. Best of luck!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2020 8:28 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:28:11 -0400

An upper and a downer. Nothing like yanking the body 2 different ways!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 16 at 2020 9:42 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 09:42:48 -0400

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member it’s nice for you to want to help a friend. Ask yourself if you want a Soldier with possible weight control, mental stability, and illegal drug use problems, not to mention integrity issues, in your Army. I wouldn’t. Hope your friend finds employment elsewhere.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 16 at 2020 10:51 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 10:51:03 -0400

Sounds like there are details we don't know.

Benzodiazepine isn't prescribed for weight loss. It is Valium/Xanax, so that raises the question of why the person is using it, whether the recruiter knew about it and whether it was disclosed ahead of the urine test. My guess is that it wasn't disclosed and now serves as a major red flag on your friend's attempt to enlist. I am guessing the Recruiter feels it is fruitless at this point and probably feels a little misled but that is just a guess because there are a lot of unknowns.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 16 at 2020 12:15 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:15:41 -0400

Your “friend” should notified his recruiter about the use of ALL PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS when given the opportunity; which he did.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2020 1:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:52:08 -0400

When I joined if you failed the drug test you had to wait 30 days to be retested, however him getting a clearance or a job requiring a clearance of any sort will be tougher.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2020 1:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:53:56 -0400

These questions always kill me. How the hell are you going to show up to MEPS, where you know you're going to have to take a piss test, when you even remotely suspect you might have something in your system that will cause you to pop hot? it's too damn simple. Heroin, crack and meth stay in your system about 3 days. Benzodiazepine only stays in your system for about 4 days unless you are taking large doses on a regular basis. Pot stays in your system about a week, again unless you are blazing up several times a day for weeks on end. 99.9% of the time you know at least a week in advance when you are going to MEPS. There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to pop hot on a piss test at MEPS unless they are a hardcore drug user and in that case, why the hell are they even trying to get into the military?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 17 at 2020 6:06 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 06:06:46 -0400

MEPS inquires as to prescription drugs, there would be no reason to drop him for that without going through some protocols. Your friends story is shaky at best. If he was, or is legitimate he would have no problem getting a letter from his doctor. However, if the story is straight, being on certain drugs, eccentric prescription are no conducive to military service.