I got caught with drugs and now am unsure what the repercussions will be
Ok this is going to be a long post. I just started at Medical School recently. Its been 3 weeks so far and im already struggling. Right from the first day of freshers we had proper full on lectures and some work to do. By the start of the second week, the work load compared to my other hallmates was ridiculous. I always knew medicine would be hard, but coming from a gap year I have been struggling to readapt to working all the time. I've been constantly starting work in one area then getting bored and losing focus so switching to something else- then switching back. After a few cycles of this work pattern I end up just giving up and telling myself 'relax now' and just 'do lots more work tomorrow'. Except this has been happening every single day. I like University, and I have a few good friends. However, it is hard socialising with my medic friend as he lives at home and isn't really interested in going out as such. This means I have been hanging out with my hallmates who drink fairly regularly and go out often. When I have been going out on weekends I feel the need just to let go of my problems so I have been drinking too excess. Although, last night could most possibly be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I went out for drinks with my flatmates and then after that shisha with one of them. I had a really fun time and it was nice chatting to them. I had even managed to do some anatomy earlier on in the evening which pleased me greatly. When I got back from the night however things turned south. I ran into another hallmate who knew I smoked weed every now and again (yes I know its illegal, but in my opinion its completely benign compared to alcohol or cigarettes which are legal). He asked if we could go smoke and stupidly wanting the night to never end (delaying my responsibilities) I decided to indulge him. Needless to say after that I was so sick. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. I have felt worse and more sick from drinking too much before so I wasn't worried at the time. However I passed out in the toilet. When I came to I exited the cubicle to see a student Id never met before and two security staff. They asked me some questions and stupidly in my drunk state I indulged them. I told them my name and said I lived on the halls. They then escorted me back to my room, but they came in without my permission. I had left my grinder with weed in it on the table and they found this straight away. They said that standard procedure was to notify the police and to expect a visit from them. They also said that the university would be notified. The student I had never seen before turned out to be my hall monitor, and was asking security loads of questions about what to do next. He seemed like someone who was out to get me in trouble rather than concerned about my wellbeing. I woke up today feeling so depressed and lonely and isolated. I have been refreshing my email constantly expecting to hear from the university about a disciplinary hearing but have received nothing. There are probably one of two reasons why I haven't heard anything. 1- It's a weekend so I will probably hear on monday. 2 (Im praying for this)- the security people and my hall rep took pity on me and were just scaring me the other night, but won't report it. Unfortunately I think option 1 is the more likely of the two scenarios. Im so sad that I basically ruined my life and let my whole family down over something so trivial. I had a cousin who was at UCL last year and killed himself. I kind of perhaps understand how someone could come to do that now. Does anyone know what I can do to help my cause. Should I tell my parents? Should I get a lawyer? Is there an appeals process? If I do get kicked out I have no idea what to do with my life. I know my parents will be so ashamed of me, they've spent so much time and money on me (im poor but went to a private school)that I can't bare the thought of them finding out. Just writing this presently is causing me to nearly have a panic attack. I couldn't focus on my work at all today and I feel like what's the point of even bothering when I might get kicked out in the next few weeks.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 1
Okay, @Imessedp123; it's time to do some growing up and quickly.
1. Your university will have a written drugs policy. Find and read it. My university's blanket policy on drugs was automatic removal from campus accommodation but beyond this - admittedly quite disruptive - punishment they continued as normal on their course.
2. There will be an appeals process. In most universities, the appropriate place to find out about how this works would be your Students' Union. I would contact the appropriate person there first thing on Monday for independent advice about your local processes. They will also know about the university drugs policy and likely response from the police. To be honest, if two security officers and a hall monitor found weed in your room then I suspect there's nothing very much to appeal. That shouldn't stop you contacting the SU for advice, though. Your usual university sources of support (hall monitor, personal tutor, etc) now have a conflict of interest and you might (correctly) feel that you can't confide everything to them.
3. It sounds as if they intend to inform the police. It's likely that there will be a community police officer that is responsible for the campus. If the quantity of marijuana was very small, hopefully they will just visit to talk to you about drugs. I would strongly advise being 100% polite and humble towards this person. Explain that you are a medical student and that this allegation could have a huge impact on your future career but do not allow yourself to be interviewed or admit anything without getting legal advice first. If you can afford it, I would consider talking to a solicitor this weekend so that you understand your position and can deal with police in the event that they visit. Speak to your parents only if you want to or if they are the only way that you can fund a solicitor. Do not under any circumstances do something mad like accept a caution (etc) unless this is following independent legal advice. The police might think that a caution is "letting you off" but this isn't as benign an outcome for you as it might be for other students.
4. Once you can see how this is going to pan out, you should meet with your personal tutor to discuss self-referral to your medical school fitness to practice committee. It is very likely that a FTP committee will let you continue at medical school if you self-refer, take responsibility for your behaviour, and show that it will not happen again. If they find out about this through some other means (which is very possible as it might be routine to inform departments/tutors) then this will make things much more serious than if you are upfront and honest from the beginning. I would only skip this part if there is very clearly going to be no sanction imposed by either the police or the university.
5. Do your work, find some better friends, and don't gamble your career on spins of a roulette wheel. You are not the first medical student (nevermind the first student) to be caught with marijuana and it will work out okay eventually. It's normal to feel upset/stressed/anxious but this will all resolve once you know where (if anywhere) this is all headed.
DOI: Doctor, clinical tutor, and former hall warden.
1. Your university will have a written drugs policy. Find and read it. My university's blanket policy on drugs was automatic removal from campus accommodation but beyond this - admittedly quite disruptive - punishment they continued as normal on their course.
2. There will be an appeals process. In most universities, the appropriate place to find out about how this works would be your Students' Union. I would contact the appropriate person there first thing on Monday for independent advice about your local processes. They will also know about the university drugs policy and likely response from the police. To be honest, if two security officers and a hall monitor found weed in your room then I suspect there's nothing very much to appeal. That shouldn't stop you contacting the SU for advice, though. Your usual university sources of support (hall monitor, personal tutor, etc) now have a conflict of interest and you might (correctly) feel that you can't confide everything to them.
3. It sounds as if they intend to inform the police. It's likely that there will be a community police officer that is responsible for the campus. If the quantity of marijuana was very small, hopefully they will just visit to talk to you about drugs. I would strongly advise being 100% polite and humble towards this person. Explain that you are a medical student and that this allegation could have a huge impact on your future career but do not allow yourself to be interviewed or admit anything without getting legal advice first. If you can afford it, I would consider talking to a solicitor this weekend so that you understand your position and can deal with police in the event that they visit. Speak to your parents only if you want to or if they are the only way that you can fund a solicitor. Do not under any circumstances do something mad like accept a caution (etc) unless this is following independent legal advice. The police might think that a caution is "letting you off" but this isn't as benign an outcome for you as it might be for other students.
4. Once you can see how this is going to pan out, you should meet with your personal tutor to discuss self-referral to your medical school fitness to practice committee. It is very likely that a FTP committee will let you continue at medical school if you self-refer, take responsibility for your behaviour, and show that it will not happen again. If they find out about this through some other means (which is very possible as it might be routine to inform departments/tutors) then this will make things much more serious than if you are upfront and honest from the beginning. I would only skip this part if there is very clearly going to be no sanction imposed by either the police or the university.
5. Do your work, find some better friends, and don't gamble your career on spins of a roulette wheel. You are not the first medical student (nevermind the first student) to be caught with marijuana and it will work out okay eventually. It's normal to feel upset/stressed/anxious but this will all resolve once you know where (if anywhere) this is all headed.
DOI: Doctor, clinical tutor, and former hall warden.
(edited 7 years ago)
medicine is very stressful occupation. this kind of situation arise very frequently in this profession.
but there is a good support system within NHS.
they will refer you to occupational hazards. you need to cooperate and show you are learning the lesson.
my advice, as I said, it is very stressful career. you will find the tension almost everyday. are you capable to handle it. because it's not only you but your patients will affect.
but there is a good support system within NHS.
they will refer you to occupational hazards. you need to cooperate and show you are learning the lesson.
my advice, as I said, it is very stressful career. you will find the tension almost everyday. are you capable to handle it. because it's not only you but your patients will affect.
Reply 3
You wont be the only med student to have ever done this, be honest and admit you did it, it was wrong, and you'll never do it again. Id be surprised if this was actually reported to the police, but yes, you wont get a response on a weekend.
I cannot highlight this enough - do not accept a caution from police.
I cannot highlight this enough - do not accept a caution from police.
Original post by That Bearded Man
You wont be the only med student to have ever done this, be honest and admit you did it, it was wrong, and you'll never do it again. Id be surprised if this was actually reported to the police, but yes, you wont get a response on a weekend.
I cannot highlight this enough - do not accept a caution from police.
I cannot highlight this enough - do not accept a caution from police.
This. And this is what everyone is also told by departments.
Original post by Imessedp123
Ok this is going to be a long post. I just started at Medical School recently. Its been 3 weeks so far and im already struggling. Right from the first day of freshers we had proper full on lectures and some work to do. By the start of the second week, the work load compared to my other hallmates was ridiculous. I always knew medicine would be hard, but coming from a gap year I have been struggling to readapt to working all the time. I've been constantly starting work in one area then getting bored and losing focus so switching to something else- then switching back. After a few cycles of this work pattern I end up just giving up and telling myself 'relax now' and just 'do lots more work tomorrow'. Except this has been happening every single day. I like University, and I have a few good friends. However, it is hard socialising with my medic friend as he lives at home and isn't really interested in going out as such. This means I have been hanging out with my hallmates who drink fairly regularly and go out often. When I have been going out on weekends I feel the need just to let go of my problems so I have been drinking too excess. Although, last night could most possibly be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I went out for drinks with my flatmates and then after that shisha with one of them. I had a really fun time and it was nice chatting to them. I had even managed to do some anatomy earlier on in the evening which pleased me greatly. When I got back from the night however things turned south. I ran into another hallmate who knew I smoked weed every now and again (yes I know its illegal, but in my opinion its completely benign compared to alcohol or cigarettes which are legal). He asked if we could go smoke and stupidly wanting the night to never end (delaying my responsibilities) I decided to indulge him. Needless to say after that I was so sick. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. I have felt worse and more sick from drinking too much before so I wasn't worried at the time. However I passed out in the toilet. When I came to I exited the cubicle to see a student Id never met before and two security staff. They asked me some questions and stupidly in my drunk state I indulged them. I told them my name and said I lived on the halls. They then escorted me back to my room, but they came in without my permission. I had left my grinder with weed in it on the table and they found this straight away. They said that standard procedure was to notify the police and to expect a visit from them. They also said that the university would be notified. The student I had never seen before turned out to be my hall monitor, and was asking security loads of questions about what to do next. He seemed like someone who was out to get me in trouble rather than concerned about my wellbeing. I woke up today feeling so depressed and lonely and isolated. I have been refreshing my email constantly expecting to hear from the university about a disciplinary hearing but have received nothing. There are probably one of two reasons why I haven't heard anything. 1- It's a weekend so I will probably hear on monday. 2 (Im praying for this)- the security people and my hall rep took pity on me and were just scaring me the other night, but won't report it. Unfortunately I think option 1 is the more likely of the two scenarios. Im so sad that I basically ruined my life and let my whole family down over something so trivial. I had a cousin who was at UCL last year and killed himself. I kind of perhaps understand how someone could come to do that now. Does anyone know what I can do to help my cause. Should I tell my parents? Should I get a lawyer? Is there an appeals process? If I do get kicked out I have no idea what to do with my life. I know my parents will be so ashamed of me, they've spent so much time and money on me (im poor but went to a private school)that I can't bare the thought of them finding out. Just writing this presently is causing me to nearly have a panic attack. I couldn't focus on my work at all today and I feel like what's the point of even bothering when I might get kicked out in the next few weeks.
Can I ask how this panned out for you?
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