Expert: Jason Grabill - 5/27/2009

Question
Well to be honest, ive been getting alot of mixed answers. So, my question is what meds for add and/or adhd ARE allowed in the military? i have read articles of fresh recruits and career officers in the usmc, air force, army and so on, saying that on some meds mostly straterra which is a non abusable non stimulant med for adhd. also those that have said that they are on straterra that their usual meds were replaced with that or if they were diagnosed with adhd that they werent dq and were kept in. also some articles and some recruiters have told me that as long as you tell them you are on meds at MEPS that you are usually dqued but if they dont ask you that if you do bring your meds with you that as long as your not caught selling or abusing them that they dont care you have them. So as you can see that ive been getting alot of info and danced around alot. I really could use a srtaight answer. Ive wanted to be a marine since i could walk but always thought i couldnt. is there a list of approved meds that you can give me so i can fax that to my doc? also my doctor is refusing to let me off my meds for the required year, but he was the one who told me about the straterra med. and i trust him he has known me since i was 5. so any and all info you can give me on pescription drugs would be great.
Sempri Fi


Answer
Daniel:

 Simply put, you CANNOT enlist while on ANY kind of prescription medication for ADHD.  Those who are already and and diagnosed as having it do NOT apply to those who are not enlisted yet.  You are being lied to about the meds, simple as that, because if you are on them because of ADHD, etc etc you are disqualified from enlisting into any branch of the military UNTIL you are off them for a year.  If your doctor says you can't come off of them, you can't enlist, it's just that simple.  There are no waivers, etc around this, it's Dept of Defense policy.

 Not sure who or where you are getting your information but it's wrong.  You are DQ'd from enlisting, period, until you are off the meds for a minimum of one year and no longer have the condition that put you on the meds in the first place.

Jason