Runninghead: CLINICAL ANALYSIS
Assignment #4: Military Substance Abuse Prevention Programs
Gemma K. Vizcocho
University of Southern California
Professor Fred P. Stone, PhD, LCSW
April 24, 2017
Substance abuse in the military has been a problem throughout history. The unique culture and stress experienced by military service members put them more at risk for substance abuse. Many service members turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with traumatic war experiences (Jacobson et al., 2008). According to the 2008 Department of Defense (DOD) Survey of Health Related Behaviors, 12% to 15% of the 88, 205 service members who recently deployed to Iraq reported difficulties with …show more content…
The Controlled Substances Act provided a schedule or classification primarily based on their potential for abuse and medical benefits. The classification also allowed for legal guidelines, penalties, and statutes to be put in place whether at the state or federal level. Task forces were utilized to investigate substance abuse in the military. A policy directive focused on detection and early intervention was created as a result of the findings. As a deterrence measure, the military established the Drug Urinalysis program. However, in 1976 until the early 1980s, drug urinalysis testing was discontinued (Obrien et al., 2012). The challenges were not over for the drug testing processes within the military service. In 1983, a commission reviewed the Army and Air Force drug testing procedures and found that the processes in place at that time had discharged over 10,000 service members for use of illegal drugs and did not meet the forensic standards that were in place at that time. The discharged service members were offered reparations and the opportunity to re-enter the military while several drug testing unit commanders were fired, retired, and promotions withheld. In the 1980’s, the policy was reviewed again to show the incompatibility of drug and alcohol use with mission and readiness (DoD, 1980). Tolerance of alcohol misuse was not in line with the cultural change that was being adopted across all branches of military. The services were aligned to a more professional organization with high standards of service, discipline, and core values. Education and training emphasized, but less attention was given to the treatment. According to Allen and Mazzuchi (1985), the belief that drug users were not addicted equates to them not in need of
Assignment #4: Military Substance Abuse Prevention Programs
Gemma K. Vizcocho
University of Southern California
Professor Fred P. Stone, PhD, LCSW
April 24, 2017
Substance abuse in the military has been a problem throughout history. The unique culture and stress experienced by military service members put them more at risk for substance abuse. Many service members turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with traumatic war experiences (Jacobson et al., 2008). According to the 2008 Department of Defense (DOD) Survey of Health Related Behaviors, 12% to 15% of the 88, 205 service members who recently deployed to Iraq reported difficulties with …show more content…
The Controlled Substances Act provided a schedule or classification primarily based on their potential for abuse and medical benefits. The classification also allowed for legal guidelines, penalties, and statutes to be put in place whether at the state or federal level. Task forces were utilized to investigate substance abuse in the military. A policy directive focused on detection and early intervention was created as a result of the findings. As a deterrence measure, the military established the Drug Urinalysis program. However, in 1976 until the early 1980s, drug urinalysis testing was discontinued (Obrien et al., 2012). The challenges were not over for the drug testing processes within the military service. In 1983, a commission reviewed the Army and Air Force drug testing procedures and found that the processes in place at that time had discharged over 10,000 service members for use of illegal drugs and did not meet the forensic standards that were in place at that time. The discharged service members were offered reparations and the opportunity to re-enter the military while several drug testing unit commanders were fired, retired, and promotions withheld. In the 1980’s, the policy was reviewed again to show the incompatibility of drug and alcohol use with mission and readiness (DoD, 1980). Tolerance of alcohol misuse was not in line with the cultural change that was being adopted across all branches of military. The services were aligned to a more professional organization with high standards of service, discipline, and core values. Education and training emphasized, but less attention was given to the treatment. According to Allen and Mazzuchi (1985), the belief that drug users were not addicted equates to them not in need of