I’ve read numerous posts/blogs that indicate if you’ve gotten a DUI, been arrested for possession, disorderly conduct, etc., it is always looked upon favorably when you follow the court orders and attend the classes, work the program, go to therapy, and so on…
But what if you recognized you had a problem and stopped drinking/using on your own? In every scenario I’ve read about, it involves some legal or professional consequences and the person having been told/ordered to do something about it… but nothing like that happened for me. My wife helped me realize my drinking was a problem a little over 3.5 years ago, so I came up with a plan, and stopped. I stopped smoking pot more than 5.5 years ago so I could change jobs, and just never went back to it. Then once I quit drinking too, I decided it was best that I just leave both alone for good.
Reading about others’ experiences, it sure sounds like it almost would have been better for me to get a DUI and been ordered to seek treatment because that would have been documented. It’s a pretty discouraging thought…
How can I mitigate concerns around these two items? If I talk about the changes I made to my work-life, home-life, and personal habits, will that be enough? Signed attestations from my wife/family/friends? Any suggestions/insights would be appreciated. Thanks.
Good for you for straightening things out for yourself.
So are you saying you did NOT get a DUI or arrested or any other sort of legal trouble? Then there’s really not much for you to tell. You can say you struggled with drugs and alcohol in the past but haven’t touched it for years. It’s basically already mitigated.
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What question would you be responding to that requires mitigation? Would it be in 7 years has your use of alcohol been excessive? If this is the case, you have already mitigated it with your lack of use. Why do you feel that can’t be mitigated? No. A DUI would not be better, just harder to mitigate.
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In this case I think the passage of time is the best mitigating factor. I don’t think you’d even have to answer “yes” to any of the questions unless you were cleared at the time.
Yeah, the question about my alcohol use having a negative impact on a personal relationship in the last 7 years; It put a good deal of stress on my marriage, and most of my close family and friends are aware of it (everyone knows I don’t drink anymore, but not everyone knows all the details as to why).
I am concerned about how an adjudicator is going to view it since I don’t have any official/professional documentation as proof of mitigation.
Correct, no legal trouble of any kind. I was drinking (too much, too often) at home (specifically to avoid a DUI/accident/worse). My wife was really upset about it, and working through how it was affecting her made me realize just how much of a problem I let it become, so I quit.
If it helps, they asked me how much I drank and what I did to mitigate it, and if I still drink and why not. They didn’t need any other info. They’ll probably also ask around to see if you still drink and how much. And that will be that. They didn’t do that for mine that I’ve heard, but I was a reference for a friend in LE decades ago and that was basically what they asked.
I think you’ll be fine. I have a mystery aud dx on my record from 6 years ago related to stuff that hasn’t happened since 2002 (just self admitted to being a slob at therapy intake) and they didn’t even dig into it.
I then got into a “drunken argument” with my now ex over 5 years ago and quit drinking after. I’ve recently come to discover that the supposed argument never happened, nor did the blackout. I reported it, and I’m really annoyed about it after finding the retroactive aud dx thing too. But honestly that’s even more reason I’m not touching the stuff anymore. No chance for repeat.
Sometimes that’s all they want to know is why you quit. That and time mitigates a lot. All that is to say, I know exactly how that situation feels. I wish I had been told to get counseling because I would have and then it’d be fully mitigated.
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