Will an Investigator Hunt Down People I Did Drugs With?

Drugs are known to impair judgment, increase risk-taking behavior, and lead to addiction, which can all pose a significant risk to national security. This is why drug involvement is one of the most common reasons for security clearance denials… in addition to personal conduct, which usually means lying (perhaps about your drug use).

One ClearanceJobsBlog subscriber was worried that an investigator would interview his former drug cohorts and they would share conflicting stories to theirs:

“For a TS investigation will I have to give them the names of the people I did drugs with lots of years ago? Will they find them and interview them too (not references)? Will they ask them about the same dates that I said in the application? I was 100% honest and put down all the drugs but I don’t know the exact number and are worried they will say a different number/date and make me look like I’m lying.”

Section 23 of the SF-86 asks about drug use within the past 7 years, but Section 22 asks “Have you EVER been charged with an offense involving alcohol or drugs?” If you were not charged and you had no subsequent involvement with drugs, you would not have to list simple possession or use of drugs that occurred more than 7 years ago.

The federal government has a zero-tolerance policy for drug use among individuals who require a security clearance for their job. Even if the drug use occurred years ago, it can still be a red flag for investigators, depending upon the frequency of use.

Mitigating factors including no longer using drugs, committing to maintaining a drug-free lifestyle, separating yourself from drug users, or completing a drug treatment program, can add evidence to your case that you are on a better track. The whole-person concept is on your side, and it was a great first step in telling the truth.

As for investigators, they are only doing their job by probing on information you shared on the SF-86. We’ve seen in past cases that they were able to uncover new information through their interviews that ultimately led to a security clearance denial.

But as for hunting down all the people you partied with? One investigator on the thread notes, “Specific names are not required by SF-86, but depending on your investigator, and the time frame when you last did drugs, you may be asked for more context during your interviews. Whether or not they will probe further by asking additional names and reaching out to them is hard to tell.”

If you have names, addresses, contact information, etc. on these people, maybe you haven’t separated yourself far enough from drug users to obtain a security clearance.

Another investigator says, “When someone indicates they have used illegal substances we are required to ask where they got the substances from. Was it purchased or given? Also, who was it purchased from, how much, etc. Another question on the forms is have you ever purchased, sold, handled, manufactured, etc illegal substances? Most people who have had prior drug use have purchased it. When there is any type of drug use all basic interrogatives are asked… it’s protocol.”