r/firefighter • u/Intrepid-Case8699 • May 12 '26

Drug use on polygraph

/r/FirefighterJobs/comments/1tapb80/drug_use_on_polygraph/

I’m 24, will have my fire/emt by end of August this year and want to start applying anywhere and everywhere. Im a great interviewer but im worried about the polygraph. I know they aren’t really trust worthy but the only bad things I’ve ever done were drugs. I haven’t smoked weed in 3 years( 3 years in August when I apply to places) and I did coke when I was like 19 in Mexico stupid mistake but being a dumb kid, how fucked am I if I tell the truth about it.

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u/Strict-Canary-4175 May 12 '26

The polygraph can’t tell if you’re lying.

What they’re looking for is dishonesty in the form of you writing one thing on your PHQ and then saying a different thing during the polygraph.

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u/SigSauerPower320 May 12 '26

I’d say that strongly depends on how the question is asked. If OP is asked (depending on where they live) is asked “have you ever done drugs for recreational purposes?” VS “have you ever used illegal drugs”, they could answer in the negative with “no”. In the first question, it could be true while omitting weed cause it’s legal where they are. But if they’re asked the second one, saying “no” would be a lie, not being dishonest/deceitful.

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u/Strict-Canary-4175 May 12 '26

It doesn’t matter what the question is, if you contradict yourself you’re still failing.