Congrats on being sober for so long! Anybody at any time can become an alcoholic or drug user prior, during, after in whatever they do including a doctor, nurse etc. To let it defer you from what is your dream is not worth letting your past mistakes control the rest of your life. You asked if you would run into any controversy with another Doctor, perhaps you would. But if they are a professional would it be held against you? I don't think so. Not a professional level. Look at all the people that were drug addicts or whatever their habit was and they would become clean and sober and pursue a positive role to maybe some day help someone else in the same situation. So go ahead.. see what you can become.. Become the best you can be .. help people and not just for the money.. To me the best kind of care is when you are treated as a person rather than as a patient (if that makes sense)

Hope this helps. Good luck in whatever path you choose to take.

You know what.. I think if you re-read what you have written.. I don't need to give you any encouragement.... We all have insecurities for the unknown.. It's just how each person learns and grows from those things. It's what matters in the end. Nobody is perfect and I don't care if they have the perfect life... they are unhappy at something.. but it's up to each person to make what is making them unhappy and turn it into a positive out come.. That is what you have done.. you have turned around and you have dedicated your life to being sober.. Does that mean you will never drink again? You can't promise that.. but you know for today you will be. You have goals and steps in order to make each day a sober day. So if you were able to accomplish that... Boy look out! You can accomplish anything if you want to. Even though it may hurt some if you were to find someone that would hold your past against you.. you know what.. you will come out of that just as well, and it ends up being the person how is trying to bring you down the bad person in it.. because they have the insecurities not you. I don't know you.. but I have a feeling you would make one heck of an asset in whatever you choose to do.

Anything you do can be stressful. It's how much you think you can handle the stress. Somehow I think being sober for 6 years (and at a fairly young age) gives you more of a heads up than the average person. So even though health care can be stressful. It's stressful in whatever you may do. Going to the store can be stressful. But it's how you handle it in the end. So between you, your family etc... stress doesn't have to be an issue. Also going into this knowing half of what to expect.. the other half.. a piece of cake. The only person that may judge you.. are those that may be afraid of you.. and if they are afraid of you.. then you won that game.. Not to mention.. it's always great to see who your friends truly are in the end. Besides if you want to know about judgment.. Look at the president of the US. Smoking pot etc... We all have a past.. we all have skeletons in the closet.. some just hide it better than others.. So as you know.. don't give all that what could be ..another thought.. you are putting energy into something you can't control.. if it happens I think you can deal with it in a positive manner. So instead of putting this energy into what ifs.. just put it into what will be.. You making a go of your dream. Hmmmm lets see.. if you would happen to become a chiropractor.. I want a free consultation.