"military High"

[HARDCORE]

?MILITARY HIGH?

Dope use in the armed forces is at an all time high, according to a piece that I just read in
a local rag! And with it, ?Dishonorable Discharges? are also being cranked out faster that
a goose can generate manure! Illicit drug use upon warships and in barracks as well, has led to giving the boot to some 17,000 servicemen [and women too I suspect?] since 1999. These figures, of course, are not limited to but one armed service either, as this ?Forced Exodus? has stretched all the way across the rosters!

According to the piece that I just read, some in government feel that the military is becoming lax, but of course the military denies this outright! As to what may be causing this drug abuse epidemic within the ranks, some attribute it to stress while other claim that it is a biproduct of life in the fast lane! Naturally, the DoD is going to claim that it had nothing to do with it, as should some inventive soul pick up the ball and run with it, the VA may again be deluged with thousands of claims for benefits for them to [again] falsely
deny!

Here are some of the figures that I was privy to, for you to chew on: ?2001 Military Urine Drug Tests? [Those Testing Positive from samples taken]

ARMY - Nearly 9,000
Air Force - 1,400 plus
Navy - 6,600 plus
Marines - Nearly 4,600

It was further claimed, that in the last year alone, drug-related discharges in the United
States Navy were up some 47% from 1999, and even the Marine Corps lost 1% of it?s manpower last year to drugs!

?Drug Test Failures? in the Air Force, rose a whopping 82 % between 1999 and last year alone!? So again, who gets fingered for this national tragedy, and you can bet your backside that our enemies are having a field-day over these figures?

Does the Serviceman alone shoulder the responsibility, or should the service organization
that he belongs to, and society as well, come under fire? Or maybe even the veteran?s support system while in the in service, and even a after discharge, should be held [at least] partially responsible?!

Maybe it?s the state of world politics that is to blame, or a few of the past betrayals on the part of the armed-services themselves that must be faulted? Possibly, even the DoD or the VA are the culprits? ?WHO THE HELL KNOWS [or is telling] FOR SURE?? But whatever the tragic causes, government and the DoD seem confounded as to what in the
hell to do about it!? [So what else is new?]

VERITAS

[colmurph]

you will find that the overwhelming majority will be "first termers" who brought their drug habits with them from civilian life. Who do I blame? PARENTS! It's very easy to blame the Government but blame begins at home. Where are the parents when the kids are going astray? They are self absorbed with their "Own Thing" and have no time for their kids. Is it the Military Services fault? Only if the problem is ignored and they are not thrown out before they infect someone else with their drug addiction.

[HARDCORE]

AMEN TO THAT MURPH!!!!!

[sfc_darrel]

NNS020801-18. Smarter, Agressive Approach to Drug Testing Yielding Record Results

By Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy is testing more Sailors and finding fewer are using drugs.

The Navy reports that in the first nine months of fiscal year 2002 (FY02), only 0.6 percent of the 751,317 samples tested -- a record low percentage since it started urinalysis testing for drugs
in 1981 -- yielded positive results for drug use. That number is an improvement from the 0.71 percent during the same period a year earlier.

In the first nine months of FY02, 539 fewer Sailors have tested positive for illegal drugs compared to the same period in FY01, which will translate to fewer Sailors being processed for administrative separation Navy-wide due to drug use.

"Fleet leadership, along with increased awareness and education are clearly making a difference," said Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., Chief of Naval Personnel. "These efforts are translating into more Sailors making the right choices and fewer Sailors leaving the Navy because of a bad decision," Ryan said.

The 751,317 samples tested represent an increase of approximately 50,000 more samples from the same period last year. Of those 50,000 samples, the Navy was also able to test 34,000 more individuals by using a new software program that randomly selects Sailors. The software has been in Navy-wide use since December and eliminates some of the predictability in previous methods of selecting Sailors for testing.

Recent numbers also show ecstasy use among Sailors this year is on the decline. According to Department of Defense figures, the Navy is the only service to experience a decrease in ecstasy use, with the latest figures showing the service on course for a 25 percent reduction in FY02 compared to FY01. In FY01, 434 Sailors tested positive for ecstasy. Through the first nine months of FY02, only 238 Sailors have tested positive for the drug.

"While I'm encouraged by the trends, we will not rest until every single Sailor gets the message that drugs have no part in our Navy," Ryan added.

For more CNP news, visit their NewsStand page at
www.news.navy.mil/local/cnp.

[HARDCORE]

Very good news indeed Darrel! I hope that the trend away from drugs continues in all services!