Drug Epidemic Hits British ArmyAssociated Press | December 14, 2007
LONDON - The number of British army soldiers testing positive for illegal drugs has increased sharply, according to research published Friday.
The Ministry of Defense did not dispute the findings in the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute, published at a time when the British military is struggling to recruit and retain service members while fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But the ministry said the misuse of drugs such as cocaine and cannabis found by its zero-tolerance, mandatory testing policy is not widespread in the armed services and much smaller than in the general public.
Research into the compulsory drugs testing of British service personnel found a rise in positive tests for illegal substances in the British Army from 517 cases in 2003, to 795 in 2005, and 769 in 2006. It also found a fourfold increase in the number of soldiers testing positive for cocaine.
Most military personnel who test positive for drugs are dishonorably discharged.
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