28/10/2007 01:00:00
UK: Alarming Rise In Defence Force Drug Use
---
Eighteen members of the Armed Forces test positive for drugs each each
week, it has been revealed.
Ministry of Defence figures show cocaine use among members trebled since
the start of the Iraq war in 2003, according to The Independent on Sunday.
More than 1,500 members tested positive in random drug tests since the
start of 2006 to mainly cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.
In 2006, 769 Army members tested positive, compared to 518 in 2003.
The MOD said drug use in the military was far lower than in civilian
life and dealt with severely.
"Drug misuse is incompatible with life in the Armed Forces and will not
be tolerated," a spokesman said.
Soldiers who failed a test or refused to provide a sample were normally
disqualified, the spokesman added.
However, Tory MP and former soldier Patrick Mercer said the figures
reflected pressures on soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"You cannot get away from the fact that hard drug use is more prevalent
because of the sort of experiences that soldiers are having in Iraq and
Afghanistan," he said.
"They are facing very difficult situations and then they are being given
less and less time for 'decompression' before they have to go back into
theatre."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1290482,00.html
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12957
Author:
Sky News via UKCIA
|