Army Brass Calls for Crackdown on Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

Series: Drugs in the Military

The U.S. Army is directing commanders to take steps to root out alcohol and other drug problems and get soldiers with addiction problems either into treatment or out of the service, the Army Times reported June 8.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli is leading the campaign to crack down on alcohol and other drug related offenses, pressing local commanders to step up reporting of offenses and take sterner action on soldiers who test positive for drugs. Soldiers who get treatment but then relapse are more likely to be booted from the service, Army leaders said.

Chiarelli is battling rising rates of alcohol and other drug problems and what is perceived as a lack of compliance with Army regulations on how such cases should be handled. The crackdown is motivated in part by a desire to cut the record number of suicides being reported among soldiers.

“There is a growing population of soldiers with substance abuse problems, as indicated by multiple positive urinalysis results and alcohol-related actions that have not been referred to the [Army Substance Abuse Program, or ASAP] by their commanders,” Chiarelli said. Every soldier who tests positive should be referred to the program, Army officials said, but only about 70 percent are.

ASAP director Les McFarling said Chiarelli’s message is “not about crushing soldiers and getting them out. He’s about getting them the help they need.”

In 2008, 2.38 percent of active-duty Army personnel tested positive for illicit drugs, up from 1.72 percent in 2004. About 25 percent of soldiers are classified as heavy drinkers.

“Alcohol use is greater than anything else. We are most concerned about alcohol use and abuse,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division. “I would rather deploy under strength with good soldiers than keep marginal soldiers in the formation. When we have drug- and alcohol-related offenses, we look at each soldier individually, but there is no blind eye to aberrant behavior.”

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