I confess that when I was a teenager I smoked 2 or 3 cigarettes and drank about the same amount of alcoholic beverages but I don't consider those isolated experiences with alcohol and smoking enough to warrant an admission that I drank or smoked (as in: at one point he used to do it on a regular basis but he doesn't do it anymore).

Now, if I am taking a lie detector test and I'm asked if I drink or smoke or do drugs, I can answer truthfully and say that I don't do any of those things, but I know from experience that some people might find it hard to believe, especially given my demographic group. 

So if I am asked whether I drank or smoked, am I better off saying "yes" or "no"? I'd like to say "no" but I feel I'd be dishonest if I didn't mention the experiences I described above. But since I never got in the habit and never developed a taste for those things, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving an affirmative answer.

I don't think it matters to anyone if I have ever tasted beer or smoked a cigarette, but I don't want the polygrapher to accuse me of lying and fail me if I don't provide a satisfactory answer.

As to the question of drug use, I have never in my life - not a single time - used them.

I am just afraid that the polygraph examiner won't believe me when I tell him that I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I might feel nervous if asked those questions but not because I have something to hide but rather because I'll suspect that the examiner won't believe a truthful answer.

Maybe I should just lie and make up a story concerning past alcohol, tobacco and drug use? It would sure sound more believable than my telling the examiner that I am a teetotal.

One thing you can never do is change your story. If you ever filled out an SF-86 saying you've never used drugs, then you can never tell them you have used drugs later on under any circumstance.  If you do, then they will have solid evidence that you lied and that will automatically result in a denied clearance.

I found something very interesting about polygraph and how you can cheat a polygraph test. But I still want to know if it's effective. If you need to go through this test, here are some tips. You must answer questions firmly, seriously, and without hesitation. Breathe normally throughout the test (except during control questions) maintain a breathing rate of 15-30 breaths per minute. Do not breathe too deeply.Alter breathing rate with control questions.Think about something exciting or frightening, something that makes you angry. Bite your tongue. Bite the side of your tongue hard enough to cause pain.

You can’t ‘cheat’ the test because it doesn’t really work in the first place.

If you want to pass, tell the truth, stick to your answers, don’t fall for any tricks, and don’t change your stories or deviate even in terms of minor suggestions or details.

You can mess with the polygrapher all you want during the pre-test magic card carnival trick phase or pre-test phase to reduce rapport, if you really want to get him/her worked up (sort of like a passive resisting challenging attitude), but try not to intentionally mess with anything during the real active questioning cycles, because that will probably only work against you.  A little game here and there is ok, since sometimes you may not be able to help it (unconscious stuff), but try not to intentionally do anything too stupid during the real questioning phase.

Do all that and you will probably pass, although you might be reported as having personality issues or possible team conflict issues.

Whatever you do, make sure to always tell the absolute truth about real factual issues.