NCJ Number
69271
Date Published
1979
Length
144 pages
Annotation
BOTH IN DIRECT TESTIMONY AND IN PREPARED STATEMENTS BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE, WITNESSES EMPHASIZED THE SERIOUS DIMENSIONS OF THE DRUG PROBLEM AMONG U.S. TROOPS IN THIS COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS, AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR DANGER.
Abstract
SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT, HIGH-RANKING MILITARY OFFICERS, AND MEDICAL EXPERTS TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL ON THE PROPORTIONS OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN THE ARMED FORCES AND ON THE ATTEMPTS BEING MADE TO IDENTIFY DRUG USERS AND EITHER HELP THEM TOWARDS REHABILITATION BY COUNSELING AND TREATMENT, OR BY SCREENING THEM OUT OF THE SERVICE. CURRENT MEDICAL RESOURCES AND URINE TESTING EQUIPMENT WERE CALLED INADEQUATE. AMONG THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM HIGHLIGHTED IN PERSONAL TESTIMONY OR DESCRIBED IN PREPARED STATEMENTS, WITNESSES EMPHASIZED THE RELUCTANCE OF SOME COMMANDERS TO ENFORCE DRUG TESTING REGULATIONS; DELAYS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DRUG ABUSE REMEDIES, SUCH AS REDUCTION OF TOURS OF DUTY; THE LOWERING OF ARMY RECRUITING STANDARDS; NEED FOR CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMY COMMANDERS AND OFFICIALS OF HOST COUNTRIES; ADDING BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND TRAINING OFFICERS IN PSYCHOLOGY; PROBLEMS OF NOMENCLATURE (E.G., CALLING DRUG ADDICTS CANNABIS USERS MIGHT BE MISLEADING); THE INCREASING SUPPLY OF HEROIN IN EUROPE; INCREASING DEATHS FROM HEROIN OVERDOSES IN GERMANY. PLANS AND PROGRAMS FOR CURBING DRUG USE AMONG BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN ARMY PERSONNEL WERE ALSO DISCUSSED IN VERBAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY BY VARIOUS WITNESSES. APPENDIXES GIVE (1) ASSESSMENT OF RECENT TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE IN THE ARMED FORCES; (2) A LIST OF DRUG CONTROL INITIATIVES; (3) STATISTICAL SUMMARIES; (4) DRUG ABUSE CONTROL IN EUROPE; (5) CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND (6) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICIALS; AND (7) AND A CONCEPT PAPER ON A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONTROL PROGRAM.