On the other hand, I have seen SF86’s where they honestly and openly talked about previous drug use and “passed” the background check.
And if you are completely open and honest about the foreclosure, that will get a “go” also. It is when you “forget” the incident, or slightly change the facts, that it gets you in trouble.
Exactly. I always tell any new person that he/she needs to pretend that this is like going to confession (particularly with an SSBI). It's far better to list everything and be overly scrupulous than to leave something off. There are always mitigating factors for everything except one: attempting to deceive.