Pubdate: Tue, 20 May 2008 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Scott Sutherland, Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) MILITARY FIRES SHOT AT POT USE About 5% of Enlistees Do Drugs, Mainly Marijuana, Tests Show VICTORIA - More than one in 20 Canadian soldiers and sailors in non-combat roles tested positive for illicit drug use in random tests conducted on more than 3,000 military personnel from coast to coast. The results provided to The Canadian Press show that over a four-month period, 1,392 sailors in the navy's Atlantic and Pacific fleets and 1,673 soldiers in the army's four regions and training branch were subjected to blind drug testing. Averaged out, 6.5 per cent of those tested in the navy and five per cent in the army indicated positive results, almost entirely for marijuana. The results don't reflect the Canadian Forces' long-standing policy of zero-tolerance for such drug use and were not received happily by the Forces' high command, The results have prompted broader testing across the entire Canadian military - roughly 65,000 regular members and 24,000 reservists. "Any kind of drug usage, of course, is not condoned in the Canadian Forces," Lt.-Col. Lisa Noonan, spokeswoman for the chief of military personnel, said from Ottawa. "We have a number of programs and policies in place to deter this drug usage and to continue to ensure that we get it down as close to zero per cent as possible." And, the military notes, the results are still lower than the drug usage rates in the general Canadian population. The blind drug tests, which began in mid-December, were done without prior notice. Testing staff moved in, building exits or ship gangplanks were sealed, and all personnel were required to provide a urine sample on an anonymous basis. Age and rank groupings were tallied, but gender was not in an effort to protect the privacy of the very few women in some units. "It really was time to start looking at this issue to see if we did have a problem," Noonan said. But she denied it had anything to do with a series of high-profile cocaine and marijuana charges laid following a military sting operation that netted a half-dozen non-commissioned members aboard a coastal patrol ship based at CFB Esquimalt in early 2006. "That wasn't the impetus for it. This has been in the works for quite a long time because we wanted to essentially take a look at drug prevalence in the Canadian Forces overall," she said. "Having said that, the navy was certainly very interested in seeing if we have a drug issue in any of the units, either on the west or east coast." She said tests will be stepped up to eventually look at drug prevalence rates on every base and air force wing. The information will give the military a better overall indication of drug use, Noonan said. "Then we can adjust our programs and policies accordingly," she said, adding that the Canadian Forces' policy of zero-tolerance won't change. It's a warning already relayed in blunt orders to sailors on both coasts by their commanding officers. In mid-April, Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile issued a general message to the more than 3,000 personnel in the Pacific fleet warning that anonymous testing would continue without notice and more frequently and military police would step up drug counter measures. Of 967 people tested over a three-day period in mid-December in two shore units and aboard four warships, 62 positive results were detected. "Individuals who assumed casual use in the recent past would go undetected are mistaken," Pile warned. Early this month, Rear Admiral Dean McFadden, Commander Maritime Force Atlantic, issued his own salvo in a general message to his 5,350 personnel. "Despite unit education programs, briefings and town hall meetings, 29 members of the formation tested positive for drugs, mostly marijuana," the message read. Blind testing of 425 sailors at CFB Halifax aboard four ships and in one shore unit had been conducted on Jan.11. "Blind testing will continue. Tests for units not previously tested are a certainty in the near future but units already tested must expect follow-up testing as well," stated the message. "Your drug use can and will be detected." Noonan said the use of illicit drugs in the general Canadian population is about 12 or 14 per cent. "So we are less than half of the prevalence rate of the Canadian population." The preference for pot was seen as a reflection of society in general, she added. Still, she said the challenge is for the military to "basically socialize these people to understand that is not acceptable in our particular context." A special Senate committee on illegal drugs found in September 2002 that close to 30 per cent of the Canadian population aged 12 to 64 had used marijuana at least once. The figure was based on data available from two surveys, in 1989 and 1994 . Noonan said besides giving the military a clearer picture of the scope of drug use within the Forces, the tests are also intended as a deterrent, even though they are conducted on an anonymous basis which precludes action being taken against any individual. The Forces also operates a separate mandatory testing program in so-called "high-risk, safety sensitive" military occupations, which includes all personnel deployed to Afghanistan. That program has been in place for two years. In documentation supplied to The Canadian Press, the military said initial testing of combat-bound personnel in the spring of 2007 "saw 4.3% of soldiers test positive, whereas more recent testing (winter 2008) found only 1.8% of soldiers test positive." Noonan attributed the drop largely to the drug testing. Soldiers are also tested randomly, sometimes two or three times, before they are deployed and anyone with a positive result does not go to Afghanistan. Mandatory drug testing based on safety sensitivity and high-risk is also done on the special force unit known as JTF2, all search and rescue technicians, submariners and the navy's port inspection and clearance divers. More occupations, particularly in the air force, are expected to be added as legal work continues to justify the intrusion of mandatory drug testing on personal privacy. Forces' officials explained a positive drug use result does not necessarily mean the end of a military career because the Canadian Forces invests too much time, effort and money into training and maintaining personnel. Results from a safety-sensitive drug test cannot be used in court. But there is an "administrative follow up" consisting of a medical assessment for drug usage, a determination of whether a treatment program is required, and whether the person will be removed from his or her position. If that person does carry through with the action required, they may be able to resume their position as before. The same is more or less true for those apprehended by military or civilian police, or come forward looking for help on their own for drug use. "It's absolutely critical if we can at all try to assist a member stopping drug usage and help them," Noonan said. The military runs day programs, out-patient treatment and counselling, an in-house residential facility in Halifax for those who need help with a drug addiction. The Forces also use civilian agencies. 'We have a number of programs and policies in place to deter this drug usage and to continue to ensure that we get it down as close to zero per cent as possible.' - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake