Summary
A 41-year-old single male applicant was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) due to ongoing concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness. The Statement of Reasons detailed his admitted history of substance abuse, including cocaine use from approximately November 1994 to January 2021, and marijuana use from about August 1993 to March 2020.
Additionally, the applicant admitted to using prescription medications not prescribed to him. This included Xanax and Adderall, both used with varying frequency from about 2005 to 2013, and Vicodin in approximately November 2014. These allegations raised disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guideline Paragraph 25.
The administrative judge concluded that the applicant's admitted history of using cocaine, marijuana, and unprescribed prescription medications was not sufficiently mitigated. Consequently, the judge determined that the applicant's substance abuse history outweighed any mitigating factors, leading to the denial of his security clearance application.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and prescription medications without a prescription.
- The judge found that the applicant did not mitigate the security concerns related to his drug use.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 25raisedDrug Involvement and Substance Abuse
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 16, 2021
- Answer filed—
- Hearing held—Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
- Decision dateMar 4, 2022
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
- Failure to Demonstrate Sufficient Mitigation of Substance Abuse Concerns
- Admission of Drug Use as a Significant Factor in Security Clearance Decisions