USFJ COMMANDER: USE OF CLUB DRUG AN INCREASING PROBLEM FOR MILITARY

TOKYO — Servicemembers using club drugs like ecstasy is the fastest rising
problem the military faces, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan said Friday.

In the last year, at least 10 Pacific-based servicemembers have been
court-martialed — or tried in Japanese court — in ecstasy-related cases,
highlighting the worldwide problem.

In 1999, the Air Force handled more than 580 drug-related cases — 176 o
them were ecstasy cases. Figures for the other services were unavailable.

During a breakfast meeting with local media Friday in Tokyo, Lt. Gen. Paul
Hester said USFJ is working hard to cut down on the number of drug cases.

Among those efforts:

Training military working dogs to sniff out ecstasy. Some dogs have been
able to detect one gram of the drug in an open field from as far away as 60
feet, according to an Air Force Web site. In January, the Pacific Air
Forces began no-notice weekend drug testing, grabbing people who come
through front gate after 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.

Because ecstasy doesn't show up in urine samples after 24 hours from use,
servicemembers could party Friday night, and by Monday morning, the ecstasy
out of his system, Hester said.

The general said keeping troops away from drugs is important because, "when
I walk up to an airplane, and [a servicemember] says the airplane is ready,
the engines are going to work … I want to believe him.

"I don't want to believe he didn't do his job because he's on drugs," he added.

But ecstasy isn't the only club drug causing problems for the military,
Hester said. Hallucinogenic mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, also can be a
problem. Troops can walk out the front gate at Yokota and buy them at a
local shop, he said.

"We have a number of kids [who decide to take] a trip on the wild side."

Jennifer Svan contributed to this report.