SIX PER CENT OF NAVY STAFF USE DRUGS, TESTS REVEAL

Rate Below General Population, But Still A Concern To Military

The results of a surprise blind drug test show six per cent of
Maritime Forces Pacific members are using illegal drugs.

That's less than half the percentage of the general population that
uses drugs, according to recent studies, but is still unacceptable,
said navy spokesman Lt. Paul Pendergast.

"It is very concerning," said Pendergast. "And we're taking a
proactive approach to the issues which includes the military police,
drug testing and an education program."

The mandatory test was given to 967 members over a three-day period
in December. The mass testing was prompted by a cocaine sting on HMCS
Saskatoon, which has resulted in the drug-related convictions of four
crew members. Since January 2007, there have been 17 convictions of
navy personnel on drug charges.

"Drugs are prevalent in society and as you've seen with some of the
court proceedings, there are some individuals in the navy who have
become involved with illegal drugs and so we needed to find out how
many. And that's why the testing was done," said Pendergast.

"The commanding officers are very interested in the results."

The urine tests showed 5.2 per cent tested positive for marijuana, 1
per cent tested positive for cocaine and 0.6 per cent tested positive
for the prescription painkillers morphine and codeine. No one unit or
ship showed significantly different scores than other units.

At this time, the navy has no plans to do specific tests, said Pendergast.

"Blind testing results don't give us carte blanche to test
individuals, but we are still examining the results and coming up
with a plan which will include further blind testing and possibly
other sorts of testing. We're keeping all options on the table."

The tests are part of the Canadian Forces' overall drug-testing
program, which is being carried out on military bases all across the country.

The tests were done by a special team of medical staff. Six different
units -- two shore units and four ships -- were tested on a random basis.

"The team would go to a unit, like a building, and close off all the
exits. Before anyone leaves, everyone is tested," explained Pendergast.

Pendergast says the navy plans to step up enforcement at the base to
deal with the problem. On any given day, there are between 3,000 and
4,000 members at Maritime Forces Pacific.

According to a 2004 study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse,
the rate of marijuana use has been increasing across Canada. The
percentage of Canadians over the age of 15 who reported cannabis use
at least once in the 2004 study was highest in B.C. at 16.8 per cent
and lowest in P.E.I. at 10.7.

A 2007 report by the United Nations found marijuana use in Canada is
the highest in the industrialized world, far higher than in the
Netherlands where it's legal, and more than four times the global rate.

The world drug-use study by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said
that 16.8 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 64 smoked marijuana or
used other cannabis products in 2004, the most recent year for which
statistics were cited.