FAB23 - from CMP INSTRUCTION 14/06 - CANADIAN FORCES APPLICANT PRE-ENROLMENT DRUG USE POLICY
"If during the post substance form assessment interview, applicants confirm or declare past or current hallucinogen use, the MCCs must take into consideration applicants’ past occurrences or potential occurrences of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), known colloquially as flashbacks. Research literature on HPPD/ flashbacks indicates that this condition is very difficult to accurately diagnose medically in that the perceptual disturbance symptoms that the hallucinogen users present may be caused by other factors. These factors can include, but may not be limited to, visual epilepsies, migraines, delirium, strokes, brain tumours, dementia, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and severe anxiety and depression. Therefore, an applicant’s self report of having HPPD or of having a flashback must not be taken by the MCC as being accurate. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition contains the standardized operational criteria for HPPD that medical doctors use to diagnose the condition.
Drug use information on applicants who have used hallucinogens and report a past medical diagnoses of HPPD shall be passed to the recruiting medical staff who will take it into consideration during the medical assessment phase. Medical staff will assess the impact of applicants’ hallucinogen use and HPPD occurrences in relation to their reliability and suitability for CF enrolment (i.e., are there employment limitations). For applicants who feel they have HPPD and feel they have experienced at least one flashback episode, but have never been medically diagnosed as having the condition, must also have that information passed to the recruiting medical staff for further consideration with regard to their suitability for military service.
As indicated, drug use information for assessed or self-reported dependent drug users and for some hallucinogen users must be passed to recruiting medical staff. As well, for other applicants, MCCs at their discretion after having consulted a UPSO, can pass any extensive and questionable drug use information that is based on a combination of type of drug(s) used, frequency of use, and when used to medical staff for their consideration during those applicants’ medical assessment phases. "
Mescaline usage is associated with HPPD. It may take as little as one use to leave a permanent disorder:
Hallucinogen-Induced Disorders
Hallucinogen Intoxication
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (Flashbacks)
Hallucinogen Intoxication Delirium
Hallucinogen-Induced Psychotic Disorder
With Delusions
With Hallucinations
Hallucinogen-Induced Mood Disorder
Hallucinogen-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Hallucinogen-Related Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
A very close friend of mine had LSD dropped into his drink one summer by somebody jackass who thought it would be really funny to see what would happen. Two years latter, he stole 10 Kg of a cyanide compound and finally silenced the voices. Nobody was able to figure out why he was going off his nut and not responding to meds. It wasn't until about a year after his death that I told the Doc about his 'one time use', then it all came together.....
While the odds are that you're not at risk, and are now good to go, the three year waiting period was there to protect all parties involved. Aside from the MSN speak, you seem to have your life heading on the right track, so good luck, and hope to see you in uniform soon!
