1st Class Medical after Substance Dependence Denial

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Jor

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My 1st class medical was denied in February 2024 due to an OWI in 12/2020, and seeking treatment in 2/23. I’ve have completed a 12 step program, and currently go to therapy regularly. I will have my 2 years of abstinence in 8/25. What can I do without going the expensive HIMS route?
 
What was your BAC?
Gonna guess with the "seeking treatment" you won't avoid HIMS.
 
Hire a lawyer. This is a weird science situation.

A bunch of expensive doctors, not practicing, are going to opine on your applicability to administrative criteria. THAT is the situation. Worse, it’s all subject to secret policy….

Or, you can engage in bias confirmation lying, write big checks, wait 18 months and you WILL get your medical. You’re going to keep writing those checks for the duration of your flying career. This is the faa preferred method.
 
There is no way.
The agency has assigned you the Aerospace medical diagnosis of dependency, no matter what the details.

You might not even be credited with two years of abstinence unless you can subtantiate that assertion (have you been in an aftercare testing program?)!

Nobody gets an upperclass special without full education at the end of which you can:

Demonstrate that you have lived the 12 steps
Discuss the 12 steps
And the agency considers full rehab to be just education because the difference between abstinence and recovery is not clear without these disucssions.

No education means to FAA, you're only able to apply for a 3rd class. And even then you have to satisfy the HIMS psychiatrist and the sponsoring HIMS AME. And the pre-requisite for that is substantiated (not just claimed) abstinence for 2 years (Urine test program), 2 mtgs /wk logged AA attendance, you pretty much need an AA sponsor for serious self study, and then you run the gauntlet in front of the HIMS psychiatrst and Psychologist.

Tools is, I think writing about this in his last paragraph (and I'm ROTFLMAO)....but the HIMS psychiatrists are pretty darned tough. Tool's lawyer will get you nowhere with the "medical Standards" guys. It's how it is: they own the stadium, the ball and the league, and you want something from them (and they don't have to do ANYTHING). So you fill their squares, no matter what Tools or I think about what's really needed.

B
 
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I had a HIMS shrink and HIMS AME say I had no issues only to have the FAA ignore that medical finding.

The FAA will make their mind up and ignore any facts that done aline with that

As someone who uses his certificates to feed his family, a FAA versed lawyer is much more important

Sorry MC, not posting this with my name for it to get screen shot
 
When the reply is also sensitive information, that is fine. It's those hiding behind anonymous posting to make random snark comments that get moderated.
 
I had a HIMS shrink and HIMS AME say I had no issues only to have the FAA ignore that medical finding.

The FAA will make their mind up and ignore any facts that done aline with that

As someone who uses his certificates to feed his family, a FAA versed lawyer is much more important

Sorry MC, not posting this with my name for it to get screen shot
Everyone forgets that the squares one fills, are the minimum. At the back end is trying to convince someone that they won't get burned if they issue you.
So many guys with a axe to grind.
ONE thing that really turns them off is "righteous drinker".

Grind away. It is what it is. None of it helps the OP. Everyone needs to remember that the pilot got the DUI, not the FAA.

B
 
Thread locked for MC review.

A reminder that Medical Topics is a forum to help fellow pilots with the FAA we have, not a soapbox to discuss the FAA you wish we had.
 
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