Armed Forces
17
Hidden Army
How Drugs and Alcohol Play a part In The Armed Forces?
by Thomas Inman
Do drugs play apart in the life of our armed forces at home and abroad?.
The MOD say that they have a zero policy on drug abuse, but during my research I come across an article in one of our daily newspapers dated from 2006 which proved this wrong. It stated ‘out of over 1300
Hundred soldiers tested and found positive for illegal substances only 734 of these where actually discharged. So I ask the question what happened to the other two thirds that were found positive?. The MOD say that they are tackling the ever rising drug issues that exist but it is only a small number of soldiers were the have seen this problem?. They have also quoted that the drugs more commonly used is amphetamine based or cocaine based, cannabis also know as pot, weed and smoke is also being found to be popular second to the main leader which is alcohol.
The armed forces say that the biggest issue is with alcohol and that they test soldiers regularly for illegal drugs.
But they would not confirm or deny that a large amount of soldiers are being given alternate drugs by the forces doctor. Drugs like benzodiamorpine or other amphetamine based tablets, hence making the drug testing forefit as when our soldiers are being tested this drug would naturally come up in their system anyway. As a result this is not recorded as abuse on the records. Tablets such as Codiane will show as a positive result but these drug are given out daily to many members of our communities and I therefore think they see it as acceptable.
This may be the case in normal life but they come with a warning not to drink, drive or use machinery?. Also in many cases in such jobs the are signed off work while on such medication. However, this is not always the case in the armed forces, many of our soldiers are deemed fit and pasted for duty. Even though we know that some of these drugs can stay in your system for days, even weeks so that combined with the alcohol the soldier regularly takes, while on a three day leave pass surly makes them unfit for duty as the body can only get rid of the excess of alcohol one unit per hour. As we know many of our soldiers drinks to prove themselves in their units, with many seeing it as part of a right of passage. Even the MOD say this can be good for team bonding and can be a way of the new members of the regiment to gain acceptance.
T: Firstly thanks for agreeing to speak to us today on such a personal and sensitive subject, I will ask the first most obvious question, does your son actively drink?
A. Yes, he drinks heavenly when home he says it helps him with the flashbacks of his mate being shot down and blown up.
T: While on leave does your son have violent behavior.
A. Again yes, he can and does pick fights with strangers for any and no reason at all; his mood can change very quickly.
T: Do you and your son know where to find help if you both need to,
A: honestly am not a 100% sure, but am glad that my son can talk to me.
T: Has your son taken illegal drugs while on tour.
A. Yes he has told me he as taken cocaine and Tramazapam.
T: Fifteen soldiers are thrown out the army each week due to drug related incidents say the MOD, do you worry your son could be one of them?.
A.Yes especially as I know the army is and always has been his lifes dream.
T: One last question, as a proud dad do you worry about that dreaded knock on you front door.
A. Yes the nightmares I have had because of it, I can not begin to tell you.
While I was compiling this interview I found the fathers honesty and humility very compounding and asked myself as a father if I could go through such an experience. I am still waiting to answer that question myself.
I would like to say a great big thanks to all that have help me put this article together and a very special thanks to all our armed forces and all serving in them.
by D2DI learner Thomas Inman 2013.