[dshobbies]

I've been on both sides of this fence. As an employer, I believe it's against the law to ask about diseases but ok to ask about a medical condition that might interfere with work. This would include your chronic back pain along with any meds to might take to control it.

If you lie and get the job, any medical insurance that might go along with it can be rescinded without payment of benefits or the requirements that any benefit be paid back. If you lie to get the job, you can be fired without unemployment benefits. If a drug test is required, you will probably fail and lose your job.

However, if you tell the truth, you may not be hired and as a previous employer, I wasn't looking for trouble and would steer clear of someone in your condition/predicament.

What to do? That's your decision. I think what I'd do is go ahead and get your meds going while still in school. As you begin to look for a job, begin to taper off so you won't have to lie. Try to work a couple of months with no drugs at all or perhaps just in the evenings and then begin again. Then again, you may be looking for longer than is tolerable to be off of pain meds.

You're in a difficult situation and you have to decide how to best handle it. I'm sorry you find yourself between the perverbial rock and a hard place. I do wish you well and please keep us posted.

Dale