The military has a zero tolerance for drug use. I would like to hear your lessons learned.

George, I saw rampant drug use in Vietnam in 1970. I even smoked dope a few times, but one time when we were supposedly off duty, we got hit with a sapper attack and I realized I was in no shape to fight effectively, but I did fight. From that point on, I said hell no. I realized what it did to me and all it takes is one incident where you are not ready to perform at your best in an instant, to get you sent home in a body bag.

But ma'am, I tried to be clear in saying I am not promoting any drug nor am I excusing drug abusers, so I am not sure what you mean by saying we all signed the dotted line and thus surrendered a different lifestyle.
The military is no place for substance abuse and I believe our health care system should do their best to support that.

CH (CPT) Heather Davis They still love to give out that Motrin... :o

I agree. They hand out the Dexedrine, Ambien, Motrin, even stronger pain medications...but then ban or limit things like tobacco, alcohol, and energy drinks.

I also find it interesting that were I to go to my commander or medical care provider and admit to shooting up heroin or snorting cocaine, I could go into an ADAPT program with essentially zero impact to my career...but if I get caught one time smoking marijuana, I'm looking at a felony drug conviction, dishonorable discharge, and probably jail time.

I remember when the Navy Urinalysis Program started. It wasn't until my 3rd Tour, 2nd Enlistment 1980. Same time we started PT and we got rid of Beards.

MAJ Patterson, I want to thank you for the insight of how drugs change logical thinking into irrational thought. The message I want all to remember that one moment creates a life time of regret and dishonors yourself, your unit, and all that know you.

Hard to do and yet, you did not make the decision, they did. When I observed then Sailors during a Urinalysis Screening there were always a few making remarks about the observers getting our jollies watching them pee. Many, not all of these were the ones that came back positive. Their choice at being embarrassed twice.

I think its the crux on why most people do criminal acts they don't think they will get caught. If they thought that, they would be less likely to do it. Others may think position of power is a shield as well.

I don't know how one could think they would get away with drug use. I was piss tested soooo many times in the Active Duty AF that I always thought that there was no you could get away with trying it for once. I used to go to the Air Force Criminal Court of Appeals and pull cases that people got caught doing it and tell my subordinates the penalties for being busted.

I used to tell them that if they are at a party and get a joint passed around or someone wants to offer them E or whatever that the first thought in their mind should be what if I get piss tested monday morning. Will they want to be court martialed reduced in rank spend time in jail to be put on the street with a BCD. Once they thought about it they said no not really.

We had a guy get popped for cocaine and he mentioned that he got away with it once and figured that the test might have been flawed and that he could still do it. Well he found out wrong. I found out that the piss test not only is random but they sometimes only randomly test certain samples because the process is not cheap. So he found out the hard way.

In my career there was in addition to many airman who got busted on base.

A reserve major C-5 pilot who had a stellar career just came back from ACSC, and was arrested by civilian authorities for having crack pipe in his car.

A Kid just graduated USAFA and was on his way to get his wings. Instead he got a year in jail and a dismissal from service for trying E at a party. He was a 2LT for one whole month.

Prior Service Captain Nurse with over 17 years of service decided to try Morphine once. claimed it was a back injury that he did not want to get diagnosed officially. Figured taking morphine for the pain once. Got tested the next day and flush went that pension that he would have had in a few years.

I think if people understood the long range consequences more, than they might make better decisions. If that were 100% possible we aould have no crime in society.

People make rational choices about committing all acts that are illegal or deviant. They weigh the gains, in the case of drug abuse, getting high and feeling euphoric, against the consequences of getting caught. In the military, that is a terribly high price to pay for a few hours of euphoria. A career lost and a black mark on your name for the rest of your life. Criminals have a certain arrogance where they believe they are smarter than those who support and abide by the law. This arrogance is often their undoing. Drug testing had just started when I left Vietnam in 1970. Many who were caught had to sit in the Long Binh Jail (stockade) while their court martial was convened. Here they were fixing to go home to only end up spending, sometimes several months longer in that hell hole, and then go home in disgrace. What a waste.

Except they basically did. The last person I saw who got caught using drugs in the military did jail time. Biden essentially just got walking papers. He's not going to be prosecuted...and especially hypocritical stance given his father's support for many of the harsh drug laws and mandatory sentencing minimums during his time in congress. He's also not facing any kind of hearing regarding disbarring him as a lawyer...I'm guessing any of your JAG officers without a VIP dad would have to stop practicing law after something like this.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-hunter-biden-cronyism-nepotism-perspec-1023-jm-20141022-story.html

That's true. One step at a time I guess.

I could argue that the military kicked both people out, and the federal justice system prosecuted one and not the other. The military kicked them out and did their job in that instance and for that I am happy. If the federal legal system has failed than that does not surprise me. As it goes with today's politicians: "Do as I say, not as I do"

The military opted to court martial one and not the other...not the federal government.

Ah I see. Well I guess even the military is not above the double standards. Sad really.

Good question SGT(P) Karen Lonn. The US Navy is still dry at sea even though alcohol is legal almost everywhere ashore. Many other countries are now seeing our Navy as an example and are eliminating drinking and bars on ships, the Canadian Navy is the latest to follow, and I had many drinks on their ships in the past.

Will the military allow Marijuana use? I can only say I hope not. It does slow down your reaction time just like alcohol and over indulgence is going to cause problems. See SSG William Patton's remarks earlier and you will see what I am saying from someone who experienced it first hand in combat. I have never used, but have observed the impairment. So, NO, I sure hope not.

I have always wondered that myself. Even though POT will be legal in the future. It will still be a banned substance for commercial work with machinery. I read somewhere a lot of people are finding out that even in states that legalized it they can still be fired from their job if they have it in their system. If someone works in a where house and gets injured from some of the heavy equipment, the first thing they do is give them a drug test and if anything over a certain level including alcohol is found they are fired for cause and they forfeit workers comp.

My guess is that sorry if you want to smoke pot, do it outside the military. The only thing I see changing is if someone does pot before joining the rules of its prior use will be a little more relaxed. I think we will not want to a have our force being able to use it because of all the stuff we do. Last thing I want as a pilot is knowing a crew member is impaired or that the guy turning wrenches on my plane just smoked some a few hours prior.