Acute Etoh intoxication 1st Class

  • Thread starter Youre grounded mister
  • Start date
Y

Youre grounded mister

Guest
While reviewing the guidance for AME's and numerous threads on this and other forums I find a sort of black hole for a situation I was involved in roughly 11 years ago. I was in college and at a fraternity sponsored party & I drank way too much. I decided to sleep it off in the backseat of my car (this was before the days of UBER/Lyft) and not even think about operating the vehicle. Someone noticed me sleeping and called 911 out of concern. I was hospitalized in the ER for a few hours and pledged to have the incident serve as a major wake-up call. I have never received a DUI or any other criminal action for that matter before of after that incident.

I noticed the 18 (n) references a period of two years for substance abuse, and the guidance for question 18 (o) regarding abuse references an alcohol events form for referral to a HIMS specialist, specifically DUI/alcohol involved arrests.

Where does this event fall in regards to 8500 completion and medical certification up to the 1st class level? Thanks in advance.
 
What was your BAC in the hospital? Are there any other events? Heck, Other than the ER, I’m not sure this even qualifies as an event.
 
What was your BAC in the hospital? Are there any other events? Heck, Other than the ER, I’m not sure this even qualifies as an event.

I agree, it’s not a reportable incident because no legal charges, no failed drug/alcohol test, mot admitted to hospital, and not a visit to a health care provider within 3 years.

Even if the hospital did drug alcohol tests, he did not fail it
 
What was your BAC in the hospital? Are there any other events? Heck, Other than the ER, I’m not sure this even qualifies as an event.

For some context, it was during rush week and I was a freshman in college 19yrs old. I thought I was “funneling” a beer, but the guys loaded the funnel up with what was later disclosed as a glass (8 oz?) Of captain Morgan. In hindsight there was a component of hazing involved, but the ultimate decision to binge drink that night was my own.

This memory is burned in my brain. I remember the ER doc telling me that My BAC 0.24 and that I was lucky those people called because I could have vomited/aspirated.

I realized after this that responsibility was more than just not driving, but avoiding placing myself in danger like that again. I finished school with honors and honestly never had to confront the issue of “substance abuse” until I became interested in aviation and the medical certification process.

Wanting to leave no skeletons in the closet I reach out to those in the know with humility.
 
My advice is to do a consult with an AME and get their thoughts on the reportability of this. Dr Fowler and Dr Chien frequent this board and might weigh in. It doesn't seem to tick any of the boxes, but there might be an interpretation that we're not aware of.

Congratulations on being smart enough not to drive. Believe it or not, this is the first time in about a decade I've heard that ending to one of these stories.

I'm not making any accusations and only you know if alcohol is really a problem for you. If it is, you need to stop because in the world of aviation, it will bite you extra hard. Personally, I wind up not drinking except in very rare cases just to avoid any chances. If I'm driving later, then I have water or a coke. That's not to say I'm a teetotaler or advocate it, but the situation is serious enough that I recognize that prevention is the best course.
 
If it all played out as you described it, I don't see that there is anything for you to report from this incident on the medical application. Be truthful, but don't volunteer information they don't ask for. The key piece is question 18u, "Have you ever been admitted to a hospital". It sounds like you were only there for observation for a few hours, not a formal admit, but you should confirm that.
 
After 11 years I don't see the FAA making a big issues of this. It would be reportable under other diseases or illnesses, if you choose to do so. Others make a cogent argument that it is not necessary to report.
 
Last edited:
It would be reportable under other diseases or illnesses.

Which one? "Have you ever been diagnosed with being tired and falling asleep in the back seat of your car?"

The obligation is to truthfully disclose in accordance with the instructions, not volunteer information not requested.
 
After 11 years I don't see the FAA making a big issues of this. It would be reportable under other diseases or illnesses.
Being drunk certainly isn't a disease. Is it a medical illness? So do we all have to report having been drunk? I don't mean to be flip, I just don't understand why this would be reportable simple because he happened to be drunk in an ER rather than his living room.
 
Being drunk certainly isn't a disease. Is it a medical illness? So do we all have to report having been drunk? I don't mean to be flip, I just don't understand why this would be reportable simple because he happened to be drunk in an ER rather than his living room.

Kind of my thought when I read it. How is this reportable if the hospital visit is older than 3 years.
 
Sounds like you were maliciously poisoned.
Would have bolstered your case if there was a police report, alas I know how these (college) things work.
 
Old Thread: Hello . There have been no replies in this thread for 365 days.
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.
Back
Top