Security clearance question

[Nocturnal]

If I was to be screened for security clearance would I be denied clearance for taking a prescribed SSRI anti-depressant for anxiety?

 

[notfred]

I doubt it if you have a prescription.

 

[Gravity]

Depends upon what level you are applying for. I have a friend that is a rocket scientist who cannot be anesthitized without government approval.

Heck, he was telling me that one guy in his office had a heart attack and 2 agents showed up before the ambulance to "observe." They wouldn't render aid but they watched as others did. Then they rode in the ambulance and stayed in the hospital and observed the body for 30 minutes after the guy was pronounced dead.

Nice!

 

[alm4rr]

just make sure to disclose it
if you don't you'll be in big trouble anyway so might as well be upfront about it

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

It depends on the level of clearance and position you seek. If you are looking for the purposes of doing business, you should be ok as long as you disclose it. If you are looking to be a spy though....

 

[woodie1]

Besides the correct information above it will also depend on what agency is issuing the clearance and the level of clearance.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
If I was to be screened for security clearance would I be denied clearance for taking a prescribed SSRI anti-depressant for anxiety?

You will be fine. Be honest - as the others have indicated. The only "issue" that might come up is that the clearance could take a little longer to process. However, don't worry about it, you'll be fine.

 

[JonTheBaller]

I was debating making a new thread for this but I'll just post here... I smoked weed on several occassions when I was younger (~18-19). I haven't smoked since then. Now I am 21 and a full time position I am applying for (it's at a private firm) requires that I be eligible to and do eventually receive a security clearance. Will I be asked about previous drug use, or will I just be urine/hair tested? If they ask me what should I say? Thanks.

 

I was cleared for security clearance on a government laboratory.
I was asked no questions about medication.

 

[JonTheBaller]

What level was it? Secret or Top Secret? So I shouldn't even worry about drug related questions, because those will all be determined by the urine/hair analysis?

 

[TheBDB]

Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
What level was it? Secret or Top Secret? So I shouldn't even worry about drug related questions, because those will all be determined by the urine/hair analysis?

They should ask you if you have ever done illegal drugs and you should tell the truth. They will usually forgive you if you are honest in the beginning and it is a minor offense like smoking weed a couple times.

Edit: At least that's what they told me. They could have been lying to get me to confess.

 

[Ogg]

I think its normal to experiment with drugs when your 18 or so..........

Note: I said experiment, not abuse.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Gravity
Depends upon what level you are applying for. I have a friend that is a rocket scientist who cannot be anesthitized without government approval.

Heck, he was telling me that one guy in his office had a heart attack and 2 agents showed up before the ambulance to "observe." They wouldn't render aid but they watched as others did. Then they rode in the ambulance and stayed in the hospital and observed the body for 30 minutes after the guy was pronounced dead.

Nice!

Those were the bad old days ... I've heard stories like that also. Having security observe surgery, childbirth, etc. in case you talked under anethesesia. I've never been told I have to do this, and I've held high level clearances for about a decade.

 

[Armitage]

As for the original question ... I don't think I've ever been asked about prescription meds in any of my security interviews. But then I've never been on any long-term prescription meds, so I might not remeber if they asked. It's not on the list of things you have to report to security when they change (addresses, marital status, overseas travel, financial trouble, etc.)

 

[BarbeQueGuy]

You are required to disclose the information. At the descretion of the reviewing agency, they may require a statement from your doctor saying that your condition will not interfere with your duties.

 

[JonTheBaller]

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
What level was it? Secret or Top Secret? So I shouldn't even worry about drug related questions, because those will all be determined by the urine/hair analysis?

They should ask you if you have ever done illegal drugs and you should tell the truth. They will usually forgive you if you are honest in the beginning and it is a minor offense like smoking weed a couple times.

Edit: At least that's what they told me. They could have been lying to get me to confess.

Originally posted by: Ogg
I think its normal to experiment with drugs when your 18 or so..........

Note: I said experiment, not abuse.

Thanks... so what's a "nice" way of putting that you have experimented with weed, but you did so when you were younger? I'm kind of nervous about this question and don't want to come off like I've been using it any more than a few times.

 

[Triumph]

They ask you how many times you've done drugs, what drugs, when you last did them, and I think when you started doing them. I answered honestly, weed 6 or 7 times, but not since ~1998.