NCJ Number
58509
Date Published
1978
Length
39 pages
Annotation
TO EXAMINE THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM IN THE MILITARY, THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HELD HEARINGS AND VISITED MILITARY BASES IN THE U.S., ASIA, AND EUROPE.
Abstract
EXAMINATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL INSTALLATIONS AND THE MILITARY SERVICES AS A WHOLE GENERALLY PRESENT SPARSE DATA ON THE EXTENT OF DRUG ABUSE. BASE COMMANDERS GENERALLY UNDERESTIMATE THE PROBLEM. AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY SHEET GIVEN TO ENLISTED PERSONNEL AND JUNIOR OFFICERS FOUND THAT 100 PERCENT OF THE YOUNG OFFICERS AND 93 PERCENT OF THE ENLISTED RESPONDENTS FELT THERE IS A DRUG PROBLEM. MARIJUANA IS THE MOST COMMON DRUG IN THE UNITED STATES, HASHISH IN EUROPE--DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RESPECTIVE DRUGS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. 'UPPERS' AND 'DOWNERS' WERE THE NEXT MOST COMMON WITH THE HARD DRUGS CONSIDERED THE LEAST PROBLEM. HOWEVER, COCAINE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN U.S. BASES IN GERMANY DUE TO ITS READY AVAILABILITY. CONTROL OF THE PROBLEM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ATTENTION GIVEN IT BY UNIT COMMANDERS. RANDOM URINALYSIS TESTS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST, BUT LED TO EXTENSIVE MORALE PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED IN THEIR ELIMINATION. BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE INITIATED A '12-POINT' SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONTROL PROGRAM, THE OFFICE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION WAS AN OBSCURE AGENCY UNDER THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS, THE ONLY ASSISTANT SECRETARY NOT REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE SECRETARY. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE PLACING MORE EMPHASIS ON DRUG CONTROL, REDUCING THE LENGTH OF OVERSEAS TOURS (WHICH PROMOTE BOREDOM AND DRUG USE), AND DRUG EDUCATION. STATISTICS, SURVEY RESULTS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION ARE APPENDED. (GLR)