If you have a history of drug abuse, applying for life insurance can feel intimidating—especially if you’ve been declined before, you’re in recovery, or you’re worried your past will automatically disqualify you. The reality is: many people with a substance use history can still qualify for meaningful coverage. The outcome depends on the details of your history, the time since last use, the stability of your recovery, and (most importantly) which carrier you apply with.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we specialize in underwriting-heavy life insurance cases and help clients nationwide secure coverage after substance use—whether that involves prior addiction treatment or substance abuse history, prescription medication misuse, recreational drugs, or a relapse that happened years ago. Because we have access to 100+ top-rated carriers and decades of high-risk underwriting experience, we can usually identify which insurers are most likely to approve your case and which ones will over-penalize your history.

Most “drug history declines” happen for predictable reasons: the application is sent to the wrong carrier, the file doesn’t clearly show stability, medical records are incomplete, or the story isn’t explained in a way an underwriter can confidently approve. Our approach is different: we build the case the way underwriters think—so your application is presented clearly, accurately, and with the strongest possible context from day one.

Can You Get Life Insurance After Drug Abuse?

Yes—many applicants can. But life insurance companies don’t underwrite substance use history with a “one-size-fits-all” rule. They evaluate risk, which means they want to understand your history, your recovery timeline, and whether there are any warning signs that suggest future instability.

In simple terms, carriers are trying to answer two questions:

1) Is this history truly in the past?
2) Does the medical and lifestyle profile support long-term stability?

If the file clearly shows stable recovery and responsible follow-up care, many carriers will consider offering traditional coverage—including term life insurance or permanent coverage. If the file looks recent, unclear, or inconsistent, some carriers will postpone or decline (even if another insurer would approve the case with better presentation).

How Drug Use History Impacts Life Insurance Underwriting

Insurance companies evaluate drug history across three categories: substance details, timeline, and overall risk profile. You don’t need a “perfect” health record to qualify—but you do need a profile that makes underwriting sense.

1) Type of substance and pattern of use

Underwriters will ask what substance(s) were used and whether the history involved experimentation, misuse, dependency, or treatment-level addiction. Carriers also consider whether the use was isolated, repeated, or part of a broader pattern.

Common categories insurers evaluate differently include:

• Prescription medication misuse (pain meds, ADHD meds, benzodiazepines, etc.)
• Opioids and opioid-use disorder history
• Stimulants (including cocaine or meth)
• Polysubstance use (multiple substances)
• Drug-related incidents (overdose history, DKA-like events from substances, ER visits)

If you have a complex history, you’re not alone—and you’re not automatically “uninsurable.” The key is showing what has changed, what your stable baseline looks like now, and why the risk is lower today than the raw diagnosis code suggests.

2) Time since last use (sobriety timeline)

Time is one of the biggest drivers of approval and pricing. Most carriers look for a meaningful “drug-free” interval before they offer their best terms. A longer sober history generally opens more options and better pricing.

While every company has different thresholds, here’s how underwriting often behaves:

• Recent use typically leads to postponement or decline with traditional policies
• 2+ years stable can open more carrier options
• 5+ years stable often improves outcomes significantly

That doesn’t mean you should always wait to apply. Sometimes, getting coverage in place now (even if it’s not perfect) makes more sense than leaving your family completely exposed.

3) Treatment history, recovery, and stability

Insurers don’t “punish” treatment. In many cases, successful treatment makes a case stronger because it proves structure, accountability, and follow-through. Underwriters like clear documentation: what happened, what was done, and what the stable plan is today.

Positive factors include:

• Completion of a treatment program
• Documented stability in follow-up care
• Consistent employment and routine lifestyle
• Support network and recovery maintenance

4) Medical and mental health overlap

Many drug histories overlap with other underwriting factors like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or sleep issues. This doesn’t automatically create a decline—but it does mean the overall file needs to be packaged carefully so it doesn’t look inconsistent.

If your history includes overlapping mental health risk factors, that may be evaluated similarly to other underwriting categories like life insurance with PTSD, where stability and documented management matter more than the label itself.

5) Legal, driving, and behavioral markers

Drug abuse history is often tied to things like DUI/DWI, arrests, probation history, or license issues. Not every case includes these—but if they exist, they must be addressed clearly. Underwriters will consider timing, severity, and whether the issue is resolved.

This is also why it’s critical to be accurate and consistent on the application. If underwriting finds discrepancies, the case can become more difficult than it needed to be.

What Improves Life Insurance Approval Odds After Drug Abuse?

There are a handful of underwriting “signals” that consistently improve outcomes for people with a drug history. You don’t need all of these to qualify—but the more your file includes, the stronger your case becomes.

Strong indicators that carriers like

• Clear sobriety timeline (documented last use date and stable follow-up)
• No recent relapses and no “new issues” in the last 12–24 months
• Stable medical records (no recurring drug-related ER visits)
• Consistent care (primary care follow-ups, counseling, as applicable)
• Stable employment and routine lifestyle
• No current tobacco or nicotine (when true—this also helps overall pricing)

If you’ve previously applied and received a decline, it doesn’t mean the “market said no.” Often, it means the wrong product or wrong carrier was selected. This is why we frequently start with a strategy review—similar to how we help clients navigate life insurance with pre-existing conditions.

What Types of Life Insurance Are Available With a Drug History?

There are multiple ways to secure coverage—even if your history is recent or complicated. The “best” option is the one that fits your goals, budget, and underwriting timeline.

Traditional term life insurance

Term life usually offers the most coverage for the lowest cost. Many applicants in stable recovery can qualify for term policies, especially if they are several years removed from last use and the file shows long-term stability.

If you want coverage that has flexibility, conversion matters too. We often compare options like convertible term life insurance so you can secure a policy now and preserve the ability to convert later if your goals change.

Permanent life insurance (whole life / universal life)

Permanent life insurance can be a strong fit if you want lifelong protection, you’re focused on final expenses, or you want a policy that won’t expire. In some cases, applicants with complicated histories may find that smaller permanent policies are more realistic than large term approvals—depending on age and underwriting.

Simplified issue life insurance

Simplified issue policies can be useful when you need speed or you want to avoid full medical underwriting. These options typically have fewer health questions, may skip exams, and can approve faster. Face amounts are often smaller, and pricing is usually higher per dollar than fully underwritten coverage, but it can be a smart bridge strategy.

Guaranteed issue (final expense) coverage

Guaranteed issue is a last-resort safety net when traditional underwriting isn’t realistic right now. These policies typically have limited death benefits and graded payout periods, but they can still protect your family from immediate costs.

Our Approach: How We Shop Drug History Cases

A lot of agencies quote one carrier and hope it works. That approach doesn’t work well for substance use history because carriers vary widely in how they treat past drug use, treatment history, relapse timing, and overlapping medical conditions.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we shop impaired-risk cases across multiple carriers—strategically. That means we:

• Gather the right details up front so your file is accurate
• Identify carriers with appropriate underwriting appetite
• Recommend the best product type for your timeline and goals
• Help you avoid unnecessary declines by submitting intelligently

We also coordinate coverage around the “real-world” needs that matter most—income replacement, debt payoff, and protecting children—so you’re not overbuying or underbuying coverage in a sensitive underwriting category.

Example Case (Typical Pattern We See)

A client in their late 30s had a documented history of opioid addiction, was in stable recovery for multiple years, and had been declined through an online quote platform. The decline made them assume life insurance wasn’t possible.

After reviewing stability, treatment history, and overall health, we repositioned the case and targeted carriers known to be more consistent on impaired-risk recovery histories. The outcome was approval for a traditional term policy at a manageable rate class—without the “dead end” result they had already experienced elsewhere.

This is a common theme: your history matters, but your stability matters more—and carrier selection matters most.

Get Started (Confidential and Supportive)

If you want to explore coverage options with a drug abuse history, we’ll help you take the simplest next step—without judgment and without wasting your time. We’ll review your timeline, help you understand what to expect, and map a realistic path to approval.

Start here: Complete our secure drug abuse life insurance request form.