Q: Can I study abroad if I take controlled prescription medication?
A: It may be possible, but you will have to take a few extra steps to ensure your needs can be met abroad. Read on!
Choose a country in which your required medication is legal. WHY? ADHD stimulants, for example, and many medications used to treat common mental health conditions, are NOT legal in many countries. It is our personal experience that not all of the international AFS partners have the volunteer capacity and/or the cultural sensitivity to accommodate students requiring certain medications. And forgoing medication while on program in order to go to your country of choice is NOT recommended. But don’t give up!
Start the process early. The sooner you complete your application, the sooner it can be accepted, and the sooner the search for a host family can begin. Because it could take a few extra weeks to match students taking medications with a suitable country, you’ll want as much time as possible to plan and prepare.
Keep an open mind. You may have to begin your online application by selecting a country that will, in the end, not accept you. It’s OK - it’s better to be in a placement that appreciates you for exactly who you are. Submitting the application formally begins the study abroad process and allows the AFS-USA staff to learn about you through your application in order to help find a good fit placement.
Contact the AFS-USA Study Abroad team directly by phone or email to let AFS-USA know your situation. They can then watch out for your application and begin reaching out to international partners with whom they have positive experiences placing students that have needs similar to yours. Your application will likely be shared with the partners during this time.
- Once a few countries have been identified that are excited to host you, you can select the best fit for you. AFS-USA staff can transfer your application in its entirety (even if it was originally linked to a different location) without you having to change a thing.
Q: How do I get the medication I need while studying abroad?
A: Bring all of it with you when you depart the U.S.
Plan to travel with the entire amount of medication you will need while on program. Calculate as close as possible to how many days worth of medication you will need for the duration of your stay. Always discuss with your doctor the likelihood that your prescription or dosing could change while abroad - both AFS-USA and your partner country will want you to be on a stable, therapeutic dose before you consider traveling. If there has been no change to your medical history within the AFS standard regulation, your doctor should easily be able to help you figure out exactly what and how much you need to bring along.
Obtain a prescription from your doctor for the appropriate amount of medication, along with a signed letter on clinic letterhead stating the need for traveling with such a large amount of medication. Have the letter translated into the national language of your final destination. (Google Translate will suffice.) Most doctors will not send the prescription to the pharmacy more than a week or two ahead of your scheduled departure date, so you may have to wait on this step until you have confirmation of an official departure date (your airline ticket).
If possible, have the prescription sent to your regular pharmacy, hopefully one with a pharmacist that knows you and/or your family. Some pharmacists will be reluctant to dispense a large amount of a controlled substance, but they will be more comfortable doing so if they already have a relationship with you and are familiar with your prescription history. The pharmacist can always contact your prescribing physician for clarification. Plan ahead so that you have time for a pharmacy visit during your departure week. Most pharmacists won’t dispense your prescription until 48-72 hours before your departure.
Be prepared for out of pocket costs. Some insurance companies will not pay for all the medication up front, but a good pharmacist will know how to run your prescription correctly to help ensure that insurance covers as much of the cost as possible. If the cost is denied, do appeal the denial with your insurance company. Sometimes a letter from the doctor is all that’s needed to have the costs covered.
Ensure that your medication is dispensed in containers with your name and full prescription (the medication name and dosing instructions) on EVERY package or container.
Pack all prescription medications in the original containers, keeping like medications together, in individual, clear ziplock bags. Place medication(s) and doctor notes in your personal item and stow under your airplane seat if possible. (Just like your passport, you would not want your medication to be lost or stolen!) Because you are a student traveling with AFS, you will not likely be questioned, but packing in this way makes it obvious that you have nothing to hide and allows immigration to quickly access your documentation if needed.
The key to all of this is working closely with your doctor, and with your Study Abroad Specialist to ensure that you are meeting all requirements to travel safely and enjoy your program!
Good luck!