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ISCR Case 22-02204 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 22-02204

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date8/28/2023
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Darlene Lokey Anderson
Government Counsel: Tara R. Karoian
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 35-year-old Research Project Manager employed by a defense contractor, seeking a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing concerns under Guideline H, related to drug involvement and substance abuse. The allegations included a history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, and hallucinogenic mushrooms, which raised questions about her reliability and trustworthiness.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to a long history of drug use, beginning in high school and continuing intermittently until January 2021. She claimed to have stopped using illegal substances and expressed a commitment to a drug-free lifestyle, attributing her change in behavior to personal growth and a desire to focus on her career. However, the administrative judge noted that the applicant had used illegal drugs while in a sensitive position and had not sufficiently demonstrated a pattern of abstinence or disassociation from drug-using associates.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that her extensive history of drug use, particularly while employed in a sensitive role, did not meet the eligibility requirements for a security clearance. The judge emphasized that the applicant's past behavior raised significant concerns about her maturity, trustworthiness, and judgment, which are critical for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 22-02204

deniedAug 28, 2023· Hon. Darlene Lokey Anderson· hearing

Summary

A 35-year-old defense contractor with a Bachelor's degree was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) due to an extensive history of illegal drug use. The applicant's drug use began in high school and included marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybin), ecstasy, and cocaine. Critically, this illegal drug use continued while the applicant held a sensitive position.

The Statement of Reasons highlighted the applicant's use of controlled substances that cause impairment or were used inconsistently with their purpose, and specifically noted the extensive history and use while in a sensitive role. Disqualifying conditions H.24, H.25(a), H.25(c), and H.25(f) were raised.

Ultimately, the judge found that the applicant's claims of sobriety and lifestyle changes were insufficient to demonstrate the necessary maturity and reliability for access to classified information. The applicant's past drug use raised significant concerns about her ability to comply with laws and regulations, leading to the denial of the security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had an extensive history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine, while employed in a sensitive position.
The applicant's claims of sobriety and lifestyle changes were deemed insufficient to demonstrate maturity and reliability.
The applicant's drug use raised significant questions about her ability to comply with laws and regulations.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

H.24raisedDrug Involvement and Substance Misuse
H.25(a)raisedAny Substance Misuse
H.25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
H.25(f)raisedIllegal Drug Use While Granted Access to Classified Information

Key Rule Quoted

“The illegal use of controlled substances...can raise questions about an individual's reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedFeb 14, 2023
Answer filedMar 10, 2023
Hearing heldJul 19, 2023
Decision dateAug 28, 2023

Cite For

Extensive Illegal Drug Use While Holding a Sensitive Position Under Guideline H
Insufficient Evidence of Rehabilitation and Maturity for Security Clearance
Questions About Reliability and Trustworthiness Due to Drug Involvement

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant has a significant history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, psilocybin, ecstasy, and cocaine, which raises concerns about reliability and trustworthiness. The applicant's drug use occurred while in a sensitive position and was not sufficiently mitigated, leading to a denial of security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has used controlled substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Drug Involvement	Unspecified	Unknown	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant has an extensive history of illegal drug use beginning in high school, involving marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybin), ecstasy, and cocaine.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Drug Involvement	Unspecified	Unknown	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant used illegal drugs while in a sensitive position.	Against Applicant	Drug Use During ClearanceWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Unknown	—	—	—
1.d	Applicant has not demonstrated the level of maturity needed for access to classified information.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Drug Involvement	Unspecified	Unknown	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline H). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.