NCJ Number
59627
Date Published
1978
Length
506 pages
Annotation
THE REPORTED HEARINGS BEFORE THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL INDICATE THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT FACE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN CONTROLLING DRUG ABUSE AMONG PERSONNEL.
Abstract
THE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS CALLED IN 1978 BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE WERE PURSUANT TO ITS MANDATE TO CONDUCT A CONTINUING AND COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND REVIEW OF THE PROBLEMS OF NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL AS IT RELATES TO DRUG ABUSE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. A GENERAL OVERVIEW IS PROVIDED OF THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE SERVICE BRANCHES AS THEY DEAL WITH A POTENTIAL THREAT TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY. THE PHENOMENON OF DRUG USE WAS NOT LIMITED TO THE VIETNAM SOLDIERS BUT MAY BE ENDEMIC TO MILITARY LIFE. DRUG ABUSE AMONG THE MEN WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE NATION IS BELIEVED TO HAVE GROWN TO EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE PERSONNEL SURVEYED ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER U.S.S. MIDWAY WERE FOUND TO BE USERS OF OPIATES. PROGRAMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED TO STEM THE FLOW OF DRUGS TO MILITARY PERSONNEL. A SOCIAL ACTIONS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE, AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS HAVE RETURNED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SKILLED PEOPLE TO EFFECTIVE DUTY. PERSONNEL ARE EVALUATED UNDER SEVERAL PROGRAMS AND REFERRED TO MEDICAL TREATMENT OR TO DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY INDICATES THAT THE WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE OF DRUG USE IN SOCIETY MAKES THE ELIMINATION OF DRUGS FROM THE MILITARY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT THAT NORMAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES ARE USEFUL IN PREVENTING SEVERE ABUSES. THE USE OF PERIODIC SCREENING FOR DRUG USE AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL DETERS ILLEGAL USE OF OPIATES, BUT MANY OTHERS DRUGS ARE PREVALENT. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)