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ISCR Case ISCR Case No. 25-00054 · CASE

Case record

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

Decision Date1/21/2026
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Government Counsel: Brittany C. M. White
Judge: Eric H. Borgstrom
Guidelines Evaluated
- HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
Questions about ISCR ISCR Case No. 25-00054, answered from its own record: what was alleged, what the judge found, where it says so. Descriptive only; never advice.

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ISCR Case ISCR Case No. 25-00054denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. ISCR Case No. 25-00054

deniedJan 21, 2026· Hon. Eric H. Borgstrom· hearing

Synopsis

The applicant, a 23-year-old male with a bachelor's degree, faced security concerns under Guideline H due to extensive drug involvement and substance misuse, including illegal use of marijuana, cocaine, and psilocybin mushrooms, as well as misuse of prescription medications. Despite expressing intent to abstain from drug use, the applicant's history of illegal drug purchases and continued substance misuse led to the denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to extensive illegal drug use and substance misuse, including marijuana, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, and prescription medications.
The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence of rehabilitation or a pattern of abstinence from drug use.
The applicant's continued drug involvement raised significant concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance

Mitigating

AG ¶ 26(a)rejectedBehavior Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's drug use was recent and frequent, undermining claims of unlikely recurrence.
AG ¶ 26(b)rejectedAcknowledgment and Actions Taken to Overcome Drug InvolvementThe applicant did not demonstrate a sufficient pattern of abstinence or effective rehabilitation.

Key Rule Quoted

“The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness.”
AG ¶ 24

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedApr 25, 2025
Answer filedJun 4, 2025
Hearing heldDec 8, 2025via video teleconference
Decision dateJan 21, 2026

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Extensive Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Failure to Demonstrate Rehabilitation or Abstinence From Drug Use
Significance of Recent Drug Use in Security Clearance Determinations

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: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on all allegations related to drug involvement and substance misuse. The applicant admitted to using marijuana, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, and misusing prescription medications, which raised significant security concerns that were not mitigated.

1.a Applicant admitted that his marijuana use had occurred during his internship and nearly daily from August 2018 to until August 28, 2024.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Regular
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.b Applicant admitted that he used cocaine from March 2021 to December 2023.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: CocaineWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Frequent
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.c He purchased cocaine from an acquaintance an estimated one to three times a month.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: Drug Distribution or DealingWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Not Applicable
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.d Applicant testified that he had purchased used psilocybin mushrooms approximately five times between April 2022 and January 2024, including twice after he completed his e-QIP.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: PsilocybinWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Occasional
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.e In April 2023, he misused Focalin when he snorted it for recreational use.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: Prescription Stimulant MisuseWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Not Applicable
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.f On several occasions, Applicant misused Adderall when he snorted it for recreational use.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: Prescription Stimulant MisuseWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Not Applicable
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —
1.g In November 2023, after he completed his e-QIP, he illegally purchased and used Xanax.
Finding: Against Applicant
Substance / event: Benzodiazepine MisuseWHILE CLEARED
Use level: Not Applicable
Response: Admitted
Disqualifying (¶25): —
Mitigating applied (¶26): —
Mitigation: —

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant admitted that his marijuana use had occurred during his internship and nearly daily from August 2018 to until August 28, 2024.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant admitted that he used cocaine from March 2021 to December 2023.	Against Applicant	CocaineWHILE CLEARED	Frequent	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	He purchased cocaine from an acquaintance an estimated one to three times a month.	Against Applicant	Drug Distribution or DealingWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Admitted	—	—	—
1.d	Applicant testified that he had purchased used psilocybin mushrooms approximately five times between April 2022 and January 2024, including twice after he completed his e-QIP.	Against Applicant	PsilocybinWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Admitted	—	—	—
1.e	In April 2023, he misused Focalin when he snorted it for recreational use.	Against Applicant	Prescription Stimulant MisuseWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Admitted	—	—	—
1.f	On several occasions, Applicant misused Adderall when he snorted it for recreational use.	Against Applicant	Prescription Stimulant MisuseWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Admitted	—	—	—
1.g	In November 2023, after he completed his e-QIP, he illegally purchased and used Xanax.	Against Applicant	Benzodiazepine MisuseWHILE CLEARED	Not Applicable	Admitted	—	—	—

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.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

________ In the matter of: )

)

ISCR Case No. 25-00054

) Appl

DECISION

ant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Brittany C. M. White, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se 01/21/2026 Decision B

STATEMENT OF CASE

GSTROM, Eric H., Administrative Judge: Applicant did not mitigate the security concerns arising from his drug involvement and substance misuse. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Statement of the Case On April 25, 2025, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to Applicant detailing security concerns under Guideline H (drug involvement and substance misuse). The DCSA acted under Executive Order (EO) 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the adjudicative guidelines (AG) implemented by the DOD on June 8, 2017. In Applicant’

FINDINGS OF FACT

June 4, 2025 response to the SOR (Answer), he admitted all of the allegations. He did not attach any documentary evidence. He requested a hearing before a Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) administrative judge. (Answer)

On June 25, 2025, the Government was ready to proceed to a hearing. I was assigned this case on September 2, 2025. On September 16, 2025, a notice was issued scheduling the hearing for October 7, 2025. The hearing was canceled, when all administrative judges were furloughed from October 1 through November 12, 2025, during a federal government shutdown due to a lapse in federal funding, and the case was delayed. On November 18, 2025, a notice was issued scheduling the hearing for December 8, 2025, by video teleconference. The hearing proceeded as scheduled. The Government proffered two exhibits, which I admitted into evidence as Government Exhibits (GE) 1 and 2, without objection. Applicant and two witnesses testified. Applicant submitted two exhibits, which I admitted into evidence as Applicant Exhibits (AE) A and B, without objection. At Applicant’s request, I left the record open until January 12, 2026, to provide him an opportunity to supplement the evidentiary record. DOHA received the hearing transcript (Tr.) on December 19, 2025. On January 8, 2026, Applicant submitted two additional documents, which I admitted into evidence as AE C and D, without objection. By email dated January 8, 2026, he indicated that he was awaiting an additional document for the record. On January 14, 2026, he confirmed that he had no further submissions for the record. The record closed on January 14, 2026. Findings of Fact Applicant is 23 years old. He graduated from high school in May 2020 and earned a bachelor’s degree in May 2025. He has never married, and he does not have any children. From June to August 2023, he was employed as a business development intern by a DOD contractor. He withdrew from college in August 2023 and re-enrolled in about August 2024. Since July 2025, he has been employed full time as a business development associate by the same DOD contractor. This is his first application for access to classified information. (GE 1-2; Tr. 44-45, 72) On July 15, 2023, Applicant certified and submitted an Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP). Under Section 23 – Illegal Use of Drugs or drug Activity, he reported the following illegal drug use and misuse of prescription medications: • Marijuana – from August 2018 to July 2023; • Cocaine – “very rarely” between March 2021 and March 2023; • Psilocybin mushrooms – “extremely rarely” between April 2022 and March 2023; • Focalin (a prescription medication) – once in April 2023; and • Adderall (a prescription medication) – multiple times between September 2022 and June 2023. (GE 1) 2

Under Section 23, Applicant also reported that he did not intend to use marijuana in the future and that he “wish[ed] to stop for [his] clearance.” He admitted that he had illegally purchased marijuana between August 2018 and June 2023, had illegally purchased cocaine between March 2021 and April 2023, and had illegally purchased psilocybin mushrooms between April 2022 and March 2023. (GE 1; Tr. 45) On September 5, 2024, Applicant was interviewed by an authorized investigator on behalf of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). During the interview, he explained that he took a break from college from fall 2023 to spring 2024 to address some

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

mental-health issues. He admitted that he last used marijuana in August 2024 and that he had used marijuana daily to that point. He purchased marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries. During the interview, Applicant admitted that he used cocaine as often as five times or more a month between March 2021 and March 2023; however, the frequency of his cocaine use was uneven. He also confirmed his illegal purchase of cocaine on multiple occasions. During the interview, Applicant confirmed his illegal use of psilocybin mushrooms between April 2022 and January 2024. He estimated that he used mushrooms once every four months during this period. He purchased mushrooms and was provided mushrooms by others. He admitted misusing Focalin and Adderall by snorting these prescription medications and not for their prescribed purposes. He also admitted using Xanax without a prescription in fall 2023. He stated his intent not to use illegal drugs or misuse prescription medications in the future. (GE 2) In Applicant’s March 6, 2025 response to DOHA-issued interrogatories, he adopted the summary of his OPM interview detailed above. He provided updated and more complete information about his illegal drug use and his misuse of prescription drugs, as follows: • Marijuana – August 2018 to August 28, 2024 – daily use; • Cocaine – Early February 2021 to March 2023 – one to three times a month on average; • Psilocybin mushrooms – March 2022 to January 2024 – five times total; • Focalin – March 2023 – misused once or twice • Adderall – September 2022 to June 2023 – misused approximately one to three times a month on average; and • Xanax – November 2023 – misused once. He expressed his intent not to use illegal drugs nor misuse prescription drugs in the future. He provided the following information about his illegal purchase of illegal drugs and prescription drugs: 3

POLICIES

• Marijuana – August 2018 to August 2013 – purchased monthly to weekly; • Cocaine – November 2022 to March 2023 – purchased one to three times a month typically; • Psilocybin mushrooms – March 2022 to January 2024 – purchased approximately five times; and • Xanax – November 2023 – purchased once. He expressed his intent to abstain from illegally purchasing any illegal drugs or prescription medications. He admitted that he was aware, as of June 2023, that marijuana use was prohibited under federal drug laws. (GE 2; Tr. 46) Prior to the hearing, Applicant provided a signed September 30, 2025 statement of intent to abstain from all illegal drug involvement and any misuse of prescription medications. He provided a second statement in which he accepted “full responsibility” for his past missteps. He acknowledged that he had been influenced at times by stress and mental-health challenges and had demonstrated lapses in judgment. He confirmed that he had abstained from marijuana use as of August 28, 2024, and he had discontinued his associations with drug-using friends and associates. (AE A, AE B) Marijuana. At the hearing, Applicant candidly and credibly confirmed his illegal drug use and substance misuse as previously disclosed. He admitted that his marijuana use had occurred during his internship and nearly daily from August 2018 to until August 28, 2024 (SOR ¶ 1.a.). He used marijuana less frequently shortly after he completed his e-QIP, but, by August 2023, he resumed using marijuana “multiple times daily.” He estimated that he spent approximately $150 to $200 a month on marijuana (SOR ¶ 1.a.). (Tr. 46-51, 78-79) At the hearing, Applicant acknowledged that

ANALYSIS

e had been aware that federal drug laws prohibited marijuana use at the time he completed his July 2023 e-QIP. In fact, at the time he had first informally interviewed for the internship (about spring 2023), he was advised to stop using illegal drugs due to the nature of the employment. He explained that, despite expressing an intent not to use marijuana in the future in his e-QIP, he resumed his marijuana use because he experienced doubts about his chosen field: “I was still using and I didn’t know if I really wanted to stop, but I kind of had thought I wasn’t really going to go through with having a government clearance, because I didn’t know if this was even what I was going to do [as a career].” (Tr. 46-51) Cocaine. At the hearing, Applicant admitted that he used cocaine from March 2021 to December 2023 (SOR ¶ 1.b.). He purchased cocaine from an acquaintance an estimated one to three times a month (SOR ¶ 1.c.). He also sometimes was given cocaine by friends. He testified that he had, at times, resold some of the cocaine he purchased to his friends. (Tr. 51-53, 61, 81) 4

Psilocybin mushrooms. Applicant testified that he had purchased used psilocybin mushrooms approximately five times between April 2022 and January 2024, including twice after he completed his e-QIP (SOR ¶ 2.d.). In his e-QIP, he had reported his intent not to use mushrooms in the future because he did not enjoy it. (GE 1; Tr. 54- 55) Misuse of prescription medications. Applicant had valid prescriptions for Focalin and Adderall. In April 2023, he misused Focalin when he snorted it for recreational use (SOR ¶ 1.e.). He attributed this misuse to peer pressure. On several occasions, Applicant misused Adderall when he snorted it for recreational use (SOR ¶ 1.f.). His most recent misuse was in late 2023, after he had completed his e-QIP. He also admitted that he had sold some of his prescribed Adderall on a couple occasions. He most recently illegally sold Adderall in the summer of 2024. In November 2023, after he completed his e-QIP, he illegally purchased and used Xanax (SOR ¶ 1.g.). Although not alleged in the SOR, Applicant admitted that he used a prescription muscle relaxant once in fall of 2023. He testified that he misused these prescription medications after he completed his e-QIP because he was unsure about his career path. (GE 1; Tr. 55-61) Applicant testified that he withdrew from school in August 2023 due to stress and uncertainly about his career field. He worked on campus and continued to use illegal drugs and to misuse prescription drugs. With the support of his parents, he consulted a psychiatrist in late 2023 or early 2024 and began some psychiatric medications. From April 2024 to June 2025, he had weekly counseling sessions with a therapist, who advised him to abstain from illegal drug use. After he re-enrolled in August 2024, he disassociated himself from his fraternity and related social gatherings, which had been past drug-using environments. He lived in a single apartment on campus. (Tr. 62-63, 70, 74-75) Applicant has never participated in a drug screening, a substance use assessment, or treatment. He has never attended any Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous or other sobriety-support groups. He testified that his current supervisors and his co-workers are aware of his past marijuana use but perhaps not the extent of his drug involvement. He had been advised to stop using drugs during his internship interview, yet he continued to use illegal drugs throughout his internship. (Tr. 62, 72-75, 77) Applicant is currently in a romantic relationship with a partner who has never used illegal drugs. He does not knowingly socialize with individuals who use illegal drugs. (Tr. 77-79) Whole Person Applicant’s partner and mother testified in support of his clearance eligibility. Applicant and his partner have had weekly contact since November 2023. She is aware of his past drug use, and she herself has never used illegal drugs. Given her work as a victims’ advocate for federal, state, and local governments, she previously held a public trust position. In the past, she was aware of

ANALYSIS

ldrug laws prohibited marijuana use at the time he completed his July 2023 e-QIP. In fact, at the time he had first informally interviewed for the internship (about spring 2023), he was advised to stop using illegal drugs due to the nature of the employment. He explained that, despite expressing an intent not to use marijuana in the future in his e-QIP, he resumed his marijuana use because he experienced doubts about his chosen field: “I was still using and I didn’t know if I really wanted to stop, but I kind of had thought I wasn’t really going to go through with having a government clearance, because I didn’t know if this was even what I was going to do [as a career].” (Tr. 46-51) Cocaine. At the hearing, Applicant admitted that he used cocaine from March 2021 to December 2023 (SOR ¶ 1.b.). He purchased cocaine from an acquaintance an estimated one to three times a month (SOR ¶ 1.c.). He also sometimes was given cocaine by friends. He testified that he had, at times, resold some of the cocaine he purchased to his friends. (Tr. 51-53, 61, 81) 4

WHOLE PERSON ANALYSIS

Applicant’s illegal drug use outside her 5

presence. Applicant has openly discussed his sobriety and his mental-health counseling with his partner. She has not noticed any signs that he is currently involved with illegal drugs. (Tr. 22-29) Applicant’s mother was aware of his illegal drug use; however, she did not explicitly discuss the extent of her awareness of the different drugs and spans of use. She corroborated Applicant’s consultations with a psychiatrist and therapist and his recent emphasis on school and career. She praised him as “very inquisitive, intelligent, curious, smart, good-hearted, faithful, and honest.” (Tr. 34-42) Applicant proffered a 2025 performance evaluation and a character-reference letter from his supervisor. In the performance evaluation, the rater noted: [Applicant] demonstrated exceptional reliability and professionalism throughout CY2025. His punctuality was exemplary, consistently arriving on time and providing advance notice with legitimate reasons for any rare delays. This level of dependability set a strong standard for team accountability. The rater praised Applicant as proactive, detail-oriented, and outstanding. Applicant’s supervisor noted his “exceptional growth and capability” in the past six months. He has exceeded expectations and has directly impacted the employer’s business development efforts. (AE C, AE D) Policies When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for acce

FORMAL FINDINGS

sto classified information. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, administrative judges apply the guidelines in conjunction with the factors listed in the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartia

CONCLUSION

, and commonsense decision. According to AG ¶ 2(a), the entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the “whole-person concept.” The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires th