CommunityEditor
03-09-2009, 09:34 PM
The Army’s program to treat substance abuse is outdated and not effectively administered in the war zone, according to a report released today by the Department of the Army Inspector General’s Office.
The report, obtained by Army Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, reviewed the Army Substance Abuse Program in deployed units from October 2006 though September 2007.
Investigators identified more than two dozen findings, some of which included:
• Most commanders failed to refer substance-abusing soldiers into the program, initiate administrative separation actions for substance abuse offenders or report positive urinalysis results to law enforcement in accordance with Army policy.
• Army and Defense Department policy concerning drug testing requirements for Afghanistan conflicted with one another.
• Reserve units arrived at mobilization stations without awareness of program requirements, without appointed and trained unit prevention leaders, and without required urinalysis supplies.
“In conclusion, the single biggest issue with the ASAP Program for deployed units is that all policy addressing the requirements of the program is almost a decade behind the transforming and expeditionary Army of today,” the report’s executive summary states. “Current policy requires major revision to address the challenges that deployed units face in the [Contemporary Operating Environment] to maintain standards and discipline and to comply with requirements of the ASAP Program.”
The investigation did find that despite widespread availability of alcohol, illicit drugs and controlled medications, substance abuse among deployed troops did not appear to be problematic.
“Commanders and leaders interviewed believe that substance abuse is not a worrisome problem in their units,” the report stated. “Not one commander interviewed in [the continental U.S.] and the [Contemporary Operating Environment] had concerns of widespread alcohol or drub abuse by their soldiers.”
Substance abuse in deployed units was about one-fourth that of nondeployed units, although no units inspected were in complete compliance with all aspects of the Army Substance Abuse Program policies, according to the report.
Overall, about 2 percent of soldiers in the Army test positive for illicit drug use.
Sources for illicit drugs in the Middle East include contractors, third-country nationals, coalition forces from other nations, and mail from home, according to the report.
“Soldiers stated substance abuse was not tolerated by anyone in the unit because of the importance to be mentally alert and to maintain discipline and security,” the report stated. “It was quite apparent to the [Department of the Army Inspector General] inspection team that soldiers were looking out for one another in the dangerous environment. The ‘Buddy System’ was well established in units inspected and soldiers were trained to maintain situational awareness of their surroundings and fellow comrades.”
The report recommended for the Army G1 to develop an “Expeditionary ASAP Action Plan as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs has not yet returned a call seeking comment.
Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/03/army_ASAP_review_030909w/
Report: http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/asap_ig_report.pdf
The report, obtained by Army Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, reviewed the Army Substance Abuse Program in deployed units from October 2006 though September 2007.
Investigators identified more than two dozen findings, some of which included:
• Most commanders failed to refer substance-abusing soldiers into the program, initiate administrative separation actions for substance abuse offenders or report positive urinalysis results to law enforcement in accordance with Army policy.
• Army and Defense Department policy concerning drug testing requirements for Afghanistan conflicted with one another.
• Reserve units arrived at mobilization stations without awareness of program requirements, without appointed and trained unit prevention leaders, and without required urinalysis supplies.
“In conclusion, the single biggest issue with the ASAP Program for deployed units is that all policy addressing the requirements of the program is almost a decade behind the transforming and expeditionary Army of today,” the report’s executive summary states. “Current policy requires major revision to address the challenges that deployed units face in the [Contemporary Operating Environment] to maintain standards and discipline and to comply with requirements of the ASAP Program.”
The investigation did find that despite widespread availability of alcohol, illicit drugs and controlled medications, substance abuse among deployed troops did not appear to be problematic.
“Commanders and leaders interviewed believe that substance abuse is not a worrisome problem in their units,” the report stated. “Not one commander interviewed in [the continental U.S.] and the [Contemporary Operating Environment] had concerns of widespread alcohol or drub abuse by their soldiers.”
Substance abuse in deployed units was about one-fourth that of nondeployed units, although no units inspected were in complete compliance with all aspects of the Army Substance Abuse Program policies, according to the report.
Overall, about 2 percent of soldiers in the Army test positive for illicit drug use.
Sources for illicit drugs in the Middle East include contractors, third-country nationals, coalition forces from other nations, and mail from home, according to the report.
“Soldiers stated substance abuse was not tolerated by anyone in the unit because of the importance to be mentally alert and to maintain discipline and security,” the report stated. “It was quite apparent to the [Department of the Army Inspector General] inspection team that soldiers were looking out for one another in the dangerous environment. The ‘Buddy System’ was well established in units inspected and soldiers were trained to maintain situational awareness of their surroundings and fellow comrades.”
The report recommended for the Army G1 to develop an “Expeditionary ASAP Action Plan as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs has not yet returned a call seeking comment.
Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/03/army_ASAP_review_030909w/
Report: http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/asap_ig_report.pdf