CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 24-01749 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 24-01749

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

Case Profile
Decision Date12/16/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Related decisionSee the appeal decision (Case 24-01749) →
Participants
Judge: John Bayard Glendon
Government Counsel: Andrew H. Henderson
Applicant's Counsel: Grant Couch
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 45-year-old individual who had worked for Department of Defense contractors since 2008. He sought a security clearance in connection with his employment, but the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing concerns under Guidelines H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse), I (Psychological Conditions), J (Criminal Conduct), and E (Personal Conduct). The core allegations included a history of opioid and benzodiazepine misuse, multiple treatment admissions for substance use disorders, and recent excessive use of prescribed medications.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to a history of opioid use and acknowledged his voluntary hospitalization for detoxification in 2022. However, he denied the severity of his substance use issues and contested the accuracy of medical records that documented his diagnoses of opioid and benzodiazepine dependence. The applicant claimed that he was prescribed Norco and Xanax, but evidence indicated that he had been using these substances beyond prescribed amounts and had not engaged in recommended treatment options following his detox.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he had not mitigated the security concerns raised. The judge noted the applicant's inconsistent statements regarding his substance use, his failure to pursue aftercare following treatment, and the severity of his diagnosed conditions. As a result, the applicant's request for national security eligibility was denied.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · Against Applicant
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
- Guideline IPsychological Conditions · Against Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
Finding similar decisions…

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-01749

deniedDec 16, 2025· Hon. John Bayard Glendon· hearing

Summary

A 45-year-old applicant was denied a security clearance due to unresolved issues concerning substance misuse and related personal conduct. The denial was based on Guideline E (Personal Conduct), Guideline H (Drug Involvement), Guideline I (Psychological Conditions), and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct).

The Statement of Reasons detailed a history of opioid and benzodiazepine use disorders, with diagnoses in 2015/2016, 2022, and July 2024, the latter indicating severe opioid and sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorders. Specific allegations included non-prescribed use of Norco and recent excessive use of Xanax and Hydrocodone. Additionally, the applicant was found to have falsified information provided to a mental health evaluator.

The judge determined that the applicant's ongoing drug use, failure to disclose treatment history, and inconsistent statements raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness. A psychological evaluation confirmed severe substance use disorders, leading to the conclusion that granting clearance was not in the national interest.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had a long history of substance misuse, including opioid and benzodiazepine use, which was not adequately addressed or mitigated.
The applicant failed to disclose relevant treatment history and provided inconsistent statements regarding his drug use.
The psychological evaluation indicated severe substance use disorders that raised concerns about the applicant's judgment and reliability.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 28(b)appliedOpinion by a Mental Health Professional
AG ¶ 28(c)appliedInpatient Hospitalization
AG ¶ 16(b)appliedProviding False or Misleading Information

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJan 28, 2024
Answer filedMar 6, 2025
Hearing heldAug 5, 2025via Microsoft Teams
Decision dateDec 16, 2025

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Impact of Psychological Conditions on Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline I
Issues of Personal Conduct Related to Dishonesty and Lack of Candor Under Guideline E

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 E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on the allegation of falsification of information provided to a mental health evaluator. The applicant denied the allegation but was found to have completely denied prior treatment courses when asked about his substance use history, which the judge deemed as a lack of candor.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
4.a	Falsification of Information Provided to Mental Health Evaluator.	Against Applicant	Lack of Candor in InterviewFOUND DELIBERATE	Other	Denied	—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

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

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found multiple instances of drug involvement and substance misuse, including severe opioid and benzodiazepine use disorders. The applicant's history of excessive use of prescribed medications and non-prescribed use of Norco contributed to the denial of security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	2015/2016 Opioid Use Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment.	Against Applicant	Drug Diagnosed Disorder	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—
1.b	2022 Opioid Use Disorder (Severe) and Benzodiazepine Use Disorder (Mild) Diagnosis and Treatment.	Against Applicant	Drug Diagnosed Disorder	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—
1.c	2022 Non-Prescribed Use of Norco.	Against Applicant	Prescription Opioid Misuse	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—
1.d	Recent Excessive Use of Xanax.	Against Applicant	Benzodiazepine Misuse	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—
1.e	Recent Excessive use of Hydrocodone.	Against Applicant	Prescription Opioid Misuse	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—
1.f	July 2024 Diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder (Severe) and Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic Use Disorder (Severe).	Against Applicant	Drug Diagnosed Disorder	Not Applicable	Denied	—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline I (Psychological Conditions) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant had psychological conditions that raised security concerns, specifically related to substance misuse and treatment compliance. The applicant's history of opioid and benzodiazepine dependence was noted, and the judge ruled against the applicant on the allegations, concluding that the applicant did not mitigate the concerns raised.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
2.a	2024 Evaluation and Diagnosis.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Psychological Condition	Denied	—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on the criminal conduct allegations under Guideline J. The applicant's history of substance misuse and related issues were deemed disqualifying, leading to a denial of security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Offense	Criminal disposition	Response	Disqualifying (¶31)	Mitigating applied (¶32)	Mitigation
3.a	Cross-Allegation of subparagraph 1.c, above.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Criminal Conduct	—	Denied	—	—	—

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

Full decision

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