Military Personnel Drug Abuse Testing Program

The best descriptor of the drug abuse problem in the military is adolescent misbehavior. Data from a survey of military personnel reveal that single, enlisted males under twenty-five are the population most at risk. Although the use of heroin was widely publicized a decade ago, alcohol and cannabis are now the most common substances of abuse. While some work impairment and dependence are reported, these are not characteristic of the drug abuse problem in the military. Programs to decrease the prevalence of drug abuse in the Defense Department are described.

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Alcohol and Drug Abuse Among American Military Personnel: Prevalence and Policy Implications

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/150.5.250 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 250-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

John Alien ◽

John Mazzuchi

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Policy Implications ◽

American Military ◽

Alcohol And Drug Abuse

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MODEL FOR THE WAR ON DRUGS?

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.84.2.a86 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. A86-A86

Author(s):

R. J. M.

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

War On Drugs ◽

Search And Seizure ◽

Random Testing ◽

Age Group ◽

Review System ◽

Testing Program ◽

The Individual

In 1982, after learning that 48% of its sailors aged 18 to 24 were using illicit drugs, the Navy declared war. The battle plan I directed from 1982 to 1984 reduced that percentage to less than 10% within two years; today it is less than 5%. The Navy has conducted 10 million drug tests each year. An independent survey taken in late 1983 revealed that 83% of the sailors in that age group cited random testing as the number one deterrent to drug abuse. Perhaps even more significant, about 26% said they probably would resume usage if the testing program were dropped. To cut down on "false positive," the Navy's program has called for 6,000 quality-control urine samples to be sent to the laboratory without its knowledge each year. Not one of the more than 36,000 such "blind negative" quality-control specimens tested to date has been incorrectly labeled positive by the laboratory. Have testing mistakes been made? Yes. However, the Navy instituted a thorough review system for any specimen that tests positive for illicit substances. It is based on a philosophy of "if there's any doubt, throw the case out," weighted in favor of the individual. The lab must never be the sole judge. The Navy has done all it can to make sure that the Fourth (search and seizure) and Fifth (self-incrimation) Amendments are protected. It has shown that a combination of compassion, sensitivity and clear, firm rules works.

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