Drug Epidemic Hits British Army

[unhappycamper]

Drug Epidemic Hits British Army
Associated Press | December 14, 2007

LONDON - The number of British army soldiers testing positive for illegal drugs has increased sharply, according to research published Friday.

The Ministry of Defense did not dispute the findings in the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute, published at a time when the British military is struggling to recruit and retain service members while fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the ministry said the misuse of drugs such as cocaine and cannabis found by its zero-tolerance, mandatory testing policy is not widespread in the armed services and much smaller than in the general public.

Research into the compulsory drugs testing of British service personnel found a rise in positive tests for illegal substances in the British Army from 517 cases in 2003, to 795 in 2005, and 769 in 2006. It also found a fourfold increase in the number of soldiers testing positive for cocaine.

Most military personnel who test positive for drugs are dishonorably discharged.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158294,00.html?wh=wh

[glowing]

1. If they are stationed in Afganistan and come across the Golden

Bushes of Marijuana... I'm sure they get a wiff or two of it when they burn the crops down... or they take a little for themselves... I'm actually surprised that the incident of opiate use isn't up as well... Knowing how the poppy fields are growing very well again.