Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: New Zealand Press Association

TWENTY PER CENT OF MILITARY SURVEYED TRIED DRUGS

More than 20 per cent of soldiers, sailors and airmen in the defence
forces have admitted they have experimented with drugs, mostly marijuana.

In an anonymous survey across all three services 20.5 per cent of
those surveyed said they had tried illicit drugs since they enlisted.

The survey by army Major Andrena Patterson as part of her master of
public policy degree was sent to more than 2100 service people, a
quarter of those serving in all three branches of the military.

About half the survey forms were filled out anonymously and returned,
said the air force magazine Air Force News in its latest issue.

The survey asked what they knew about illicit drugs, their views about
drug taking within the military and if they had taken drugs since they
enlisted.

The magazine said defence personnel felt the penalties for drug taking
were an effective deterrent.

Defence Force assistant chief (personnel) Commodore Bruce Pepperell
said testing on about 3000 personnel in the past year had showed one
per cent had used illicit drugs.

He said people found in possession of drugs would be disciplined and
those with a positive urine analysis would be warned and counselled. A
second positive sample usually meant dismissal.

He said the research showed the defence forces were "going down the
right path" with its policies on illegal drug use and that other
research showed about 50 per cent of people outside the services had
experimented with illegal drugs.

He said to have 20 per cent of service personnel experimenting with
drugs was "not good" but the research did not show if it was 15 years
ago before urinalysis was introduced, "or even 30 years ago".

Cdre Pepperell said the heartening aspect of the research was the
attitude of most of those surveyed to their colleagues who used
illegal drugs.

"They don't want to work alongside someone who may be putting them, or
their unit, at risk.

"They realise the health benefits of being drug-free and appreciate
being part of an organisation where their colleagues do not condone
drug use."

The magazine said Defence Force chief Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson said
the research would help the NZDF review of its policy on substance
abuse.

He said the services had an obligation to provide a safe workplace and
illegal drugs could undermine that.

All three services aimed to test every person randomly once a year,
the magazine said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin