Summary
A 25-year-old federal contractor was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) due to an extensive history of illegal drug use and prescription drug abuse spanning from 2007 to 2016. The Statement of Reasons detailed multiple instances of drug use, including marijuana from March 2007 to August 2016, hallucinogenic mushrooms from June 2010 to November 2012, ecstasy and LSD from June 2011 to November/December 2014, and cocaine from October 2011 to October 2014. The applicant also used DMT in March 2013 and misused Adderall from April 2011 to December 2012, in addition to purchasing illegal drugs multiple times between March 2007 and August 2016.
Disqualifying conditions under Guideline H were raised, specifically AG ¶ 24, AG ¶ 25(a), and AG ¶ 25(c). The applicant presented mitigating conditions, citing AG ¶ 26(a), AG ¶ 26(b), and AG ¶ 26(c), and claimed to have ceased drug use.
However, the judge determined that the applicant's ten-year history of drug involvement, which included continued use even after acknowledging security clearance implications, was not sufficiently mitigated by her two years of sobriety. Consequently, the security clearance was denied.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had a ten-year history of illegal drug use and prescription drug abuse.
- The applicant continued to use illegal drugs after acknowledging their negative implications on her security clearance application.
- The applicant's two years of sobriety were deemed insufficient to mitigate her extensive history of drug involvement.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 24raisedIllegal Drug Use
- AG ¶ 25(a)raisedSubstance Abuse
- AG ¶ 25(c)raisedFailure to Follow Rules and Regulations
- AG ¶ 26(a)rejectedCandid Disclosure of Drug UseWhile the applicant disclosed her drug history, it did not mitigate the security concerns due to the extent of her drug use.
- AG ¶ 26(b)rejectedEvidence of RehabilitationThe applicant's two years of sobriety were not sufficient to mitigate her ten-year history of drug use.
- AG ¶ 26(c)rejectedNo Recent Drug UseThe applicant's recent abstinence did not outweigh her prior extensive drug involvement.
Key Rule Quoted
“The illegal use of controlled substances can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness, 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 issuedMay 16, 2017
- Answer filed—
- Hearing heldMay 21, 2018
- Decision dateAug 30, 2018
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Extensive History of Illegal Drug Use
- Insufficient Mitigation From Recent Sobriety
- Impact of Drug Use on Reliability and Trustworthiness Under Guideline H