2 dui's and want to become a pharmacy technician

[cabbage patch]

I have 2 recent dui's and am thinking about becoming a pharmacy technician or perhaps a pharmacist in michigan. Will it be impossible for me? I just had a very bad divorce a year ago and make a big mistake but am learning from it through counseling and therapy. Can I have this career?

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[pharm B]

Since you have 2 DUI's, you have a felony conviction, right? (this might differ by state, so I'm asking)

Check the PTCB site to verify: https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cf...ContentCombo.cfm&NavMenuID=805&ContentID=3604

But from the eligibility requirements PDF on the PTCB site:

• No felony conviction.
• No drug or pharmacy related convictions, including misdemeanors. These violations
must be disclosed to PTCB.

I think the DUI could reasonably be considered a drug-related conviction, regardless of status as felony or misdemeanor, but you would need to contact them directly for a solid answer.

 

[Passion4Sci]

if you have no felonies, it's possible for you to become a CPhT or even a Pharmacist.

However, think of it like the board of pharmacy is going to think of it.

One DUI, as unforgivable a crime as that is, happens, and can be atoned for. But a second DUI? I don't know how you can explain that you didn't learn from the first one. How long of a time period elapsed between them?

Sorry to hear about your divorce, but if you use that as the impetus for drinking and driving, you'll be evoking the "pity party" response and no one will buy it. We all go through terrible times in our lives. While I was deployed, my father passed away. I didn't use that as an excuse (that's what it'd be) to engage in destructive behavior that could potentially jeopardize my career or life. And I'm not alone here. Every day, people endure horrible things and don't pick up a bottle, then go driving.

So what makes you special? Why should you be given a third chance? Why should you be allowed access to controlled substances when you can't even handle the responsibility associated with drinking alcohol?

 

[DailyDose]

I have 2 recent dui's and am thinking about becoming a pharmacy technician or perhaps a pharmacist in michigan. Will it be impossible for me? I just had a very bad divorce a year ago and make a big mistake but am learning from it through counseling and therapy. Can I have this career?

Hi,

I usually try to refrain from posting on the forum. After reading your post about the dilemma that you're in, I felt the necessity to comment. First, there has been some misinformation presented. Two dui convictions equate to two misdemeanor traffic convictions. A third dui conviction would be a felony conviction in most states. My advice would be to use the new feature located on the PharmCAS website that offers to allow an applicant to have a criminal background check performed on them for a relatively low fee. This way you know exactly what to disclose when you are presented with the question of "have you ever been convicted of a crime?" If you're convictions occured in the same timeframe the court may have only reported them to the state as one dui so know where you stand in reference to this.

I had a look at the Michigan Department of Community Healths website and they have a list of FAQs. One of which addresses this: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_27529_27548-136661--,00.html so have a look. Actually, they are more lenient than you might think! Even with a felony conviction, you may still be able to obtain a state intern license and eventually a state pharmacy license.

Be prepared to address two things: (1) Be able to disclose just exactly what you have been convicted of (2) Be able to explain what you have done to atone for your behavior. There are times in life when you have to take something bad and turn it into something good. Do yourself a favor and quit drinking. That is what I did when I got my dui and please don't ever drink and drive again. It isn't fair to place others at risk because of your own bad judgment.

Here is a quote from their website if by chance the link I posted doesn't work!

"If I have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor, will this stop me from obtaining a Michigan license? This type of information will be reviewed on an individual basis. We ask that you submit your application, fee and information regarding the occurrence. The Board will review your file and make a decision at that time. Please keep in mind that we do take into consideration the type of conviction, the age that you were when the incident occurred and the time that has elapsed since the conviction."

If I were you, I would continue to pursue your pharmacy career. Don't give up! Believe in yourself and believe in the god above. There are times when life gets tough. I was given up for adoption at birth, I recently tried to contact my biological mother. She told me that she didn't care to see me and didn't want to have me in her life! I was very devastated and heartbroken by this so I started drinking heavily. Before I knew it, I had been arrested for dui. I understand what you're going through. You made the right decision by getting counseling. Myself, I see a psychiatrist on a regular basis for therapy and medicine. It has made a world of difference for me. Today, I am not the same person that I was when got the dui. I am much better. I think this experience will make me a better pharmacist and caregiver. Be strong my friend and take care.

 

[hornblower]

You nearly murdered on two occasions and now you want to be the professional barrier between potentially lethal medication and people?

 

[pharm B]

Hi,

I usually try to refrain from posting on the forum. After reading your post about the dilemma that you're in, I felt the necessity to comment. First, there has been some misinformation presented. Two dui convictions equate to two misdemeanor traffic convictions. A third dui conviction would be a felony conviction in most states.

Since you have 2 DUI's, you have a felony conviction, right? (this might differ by state, so I'm asking)

...

But from the eligibility requirements PDF on the PTCB site:

• No felony conviction.
• No drug or pharmacy related convictions, including misdemeanors. These violations
must be disclosed to PTCB.

I didn't present misinformation. I asked a question and provided him with information from the PTCB.

 

[Blahblahblah898989]

First off, I am pretty sure that pharmacy technicians aren't allowed to order controlled substances. That's the job of the pharmacist. Pharm techs get slightly over minimum wage and are basically a step up from retail clerks, or so I've been told... the only difference being that they sell pills rather than magazines and candy bars. The PHARMACIST, (who gets paid ten times what you get paid), is ultimately responsible at the end of the day. I guess that doesn't stop employers from setting high standards and claiming "Someone else's life is in your hands." because they probably have illusions of grandeur and like to think that their own job as hiring manager is more important than it really is. Second, alcohol is NOT a controlled substance; alcohol is not even a drug. Alcohol doesn't come in a bottle that says your name on it given to you by a doctor. That said, I have a DUI and I have NEVER been drunk at work, I am not an alcoholic, and I haven't touched any hard drugs. Nor does having a DUI equate to almost killing someone. I agree it's a horrible decision, but unless he actually did kill someone, please don't accuse him of trying to kill anybody. Personally, I recently graduated from college with a degree in Biology. I started to take pharm tech classes, but now I realize I have been wasting my time just as I've been wasting six years of my life going to college in the first place, and I won't be taking any more pharm tech classes because I realized that even WITH certification, nobody is going to hire you OR me or anyone else with a DUI, as tight-assed as people are today about whom they hire. If they are going to make a federal production out of hiring someone to work at Taco Bell, asking for references and calling your Grandma and all, just so you can make tacos, it's going to be ten times harder for someone who wants to be ringing out customers for pills at a store. I might look into nursing instead. If I want a "real job," it's probably the only option I have.

 

[Blahblahblah898989]

@hornblower

Definition of murder:
Law. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder) and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder.

Why don't you do your homework and learn what murder IS before you flip your nose or should I say "blow your horn" at someone else's career choice.

 

[Azimuthal]

@hornblower

Definition of murder:
Law. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder) and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder.

Why don't you do your homework and learn what murder IS before you flip your nose or should I say "blow your horn" at someone else's career choice.

Would it make the tears go away if he used manslaughter instead? Please consider stopping with the butt-hurt, it wasn't that big of a deal. It's not like his comment was recklessly endangering anyone, or any thing...

 

[KidPharmD]

Would it make the tears go away if he used manslaughter instead? Please consider stopping with the butt-hurt, it wasn't that big of a deal. It's not like his comment was recklessly endangering anyone, or any thing...

But... he just had to passionately respond to immediately correct this injustice. It's not like these comments were nearly 5 years old... oh wait they are.