NCJ Number
60287
Date Published
1979
Length
69 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF A TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING DRUG ABUSE AMONG THE US ARMED FORCES SERVING IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND WEST BERLIN ARE PRESENTED; DRUG AVAILABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE TASK FORCE CONCLUDED THAT THERE REMAINS SIGNIFICANT DISAGREEMENT AS TO THE ACTUAL SCOPE OF THE DRUG PROBLEM AND ITS EFFECTS ON COMBAT READINESS, BUT ALL AGREE A SERIOUS PROBLEM EXISTS. MOST SOLDIERS CURRENTLY ABUSING HEROIN ARE RECREATIONAL, WEEKEND ABUSERS. CANNABIS ABUSE HAS BECOME AN ENDEMIC ASPECT OF THE MILITARY LIFESTYLE IN GERMANY; NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE IN THE BARRACKS IS UNCHALLENGED AS A RESULT OF A LACK OF STRONG LEADERSHIP PRESENCE. ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. SOLDIERS ARE RARELY INVOLVED IN SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TRAFFICKING IN AND OUT OF GERMANY; THEY ARE, HOWEVER, ROUTINELY INVOLVED IN BASE-LEVEL DEALING. BECAUSE EXTREMELY PURE HEROIN REMAINS READILY AVAILABLE, IT IS URGED THAT THE WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT INCREASE THE PRIORITY PLACED ON REDUCING ITS AVAILABILITY. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT AUTHORITY BE GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO APPEAL COURT DECISIONS BEYOND THE COURT OF MILITARY APPEALS. LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ALLOW GENERAL DISCHARGES FOR DRUG ABUSERS, WITH THE EFFECT OF ELIMINATION OF VETERANS' BENEFITS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. CAREFUL STUDY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SHORTENING THE LENGTH OF TOURS OF DUTY IN EUROPE. GRAPHICS, APPENDIXES, DESCRIPTIONS OF TREATMENT AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)