DRUG TESTING HELPS KEESLER CURTAIL USE OF ECSTASY

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE - Though the military said it is worried about the
increasing use of ecstasy among troops and is looking at more stringent
drug tests, Keesler officials say they already conduct more tests than
other bases.

Keesler Air Force Base has had 28 drug-related cases in the past fiscal
year, with three of those involving the use of ecstasy, said Belinda
Bazinet, director of public affairs at Keesler.

"We do more testing than some of the other bases," said Bazinet, partly
because there's a large population of younger students. She said there are
three types of tests done at Keesler.

Random tests are conducted at least eight times each month. She said about
65 percent of personnel assigned to the base are tested in that manner.

The base also has "sweep testing," where an entire organization or floor or
flight will be checked for drugs on weekends, at night and holidays. "We
generally average two or three tests a month," she said.

There also are commander-directed drug tests of individuals.

Still, the armed services are taking several steps to counter ecstasy use:
The Air Force is increasing random tests and weekend screening; the Navy
has formed a task force to examine sailors' use of "club drugs"; and next
year the military expects to unveil a test that can better detect ecstasy.

Military officials say less than 1 percent of military personnel have
tested positive for illegal drug use in recent years. At Keesler, it's
consistently been at or below the Air Force average, said Bazinet.

Ecstasy is the nickname for the synthetic amphetamine MDMA. The drug, which
is the size of an aspirin tablet, has hallucinogenic effects on users.

In the most recent incident locally, three airmen from Keesler were charged
in the fall with possession of a controlled substance. All three have since
served their time and have been discharged.

Airman Brandy Hammond, 336th Training Squadron, was sentenced to a bad
conduct discharge, five months confinement and forfeiture of all pay and
allowances; Airman Natalie Davis, 81st Medical Support Squadron, was
sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, three months confinement, three
months hard labor without confinement and forfeiture of all pay and
allowances; and Airman 1st Class Stephen Johnson, 332nd TRS, was sentenced
to a bad conduct discharge, four months confinement, reduction in rank and
forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

The maximum punishment for possession is dishonorable discharge, forfeiture
of pay and benefits and confinement of up to five years. For distribution,
confinement could be up to 15 years, said Bazinet.

Officials at Naval Station Pascagoula said they have not had any incidents
involving the use of ecstasy.