FORT CAMPBELL COMMANDER CAUTIONS TROOPS AFTER 423 POSITIVE DRUG TESTS OVER
PAST YEAR

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Fort Campbell's commander is concerned about the
increasing use of the club drug Ecstasy among troops.

In an Oct. 25 open letter to the Fort Campbell community in the post's
newspaper, Maj. Gen. Richard A. Cody cited 423 positive urinalysis tests for
this fiscal year. Even though that is 15 fewer than the number of positive
tests the previous year, Cody expressed alarm in the letter about the
increased use of Ecstasy, GHB, LSD and methamphetamine.

''We must be ready to give 100% mentally and physically when called to
respond to the national tragedy of September 11,'' Cody wrote in the
published letter. ''To be prepared, we must do all within our power day in
and day out to prevent personal tragedies in the lives of our fellow
soldiers that come from illegal drugs.''

Fort Campbell conducts about 40,000 drug tests a year. The huge post on the
Kentucky-Tennessee line is home to the 101st Airborne Division and to some
Special Operations units.

The penalties for drug use in the Army vary, but Fort Campbell issues more
than 200 ''Article 15s'' annually - offenses under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice that are similar to misdemeanor charges in the civilian
world.

Last year, 63 soldiers received court-martial convictions for drug-related
offenses, which are similar to felonies, These convictions come with
dishonorable discharges and often confinement for many years.

Clarksville police spokesman Lt. Geno Grubbs said Ecstasy had been found in
the city, but he did not say if those cases had been attributed to soldiers.

Post officials see the drug problem as a reflection of society. ''As America
addresses illegal drug use, so does the Army,'' said post spokesman Maj.
Paul Fitzpatrick.

''My impression is that drug use will not increase nor decrease as a result
of the attack on America. Soldiers that use illegal drugs do so because they
want to, not because they feel pressured.

''Every soldier in the Army is a volunteer. They volunteered to serve their
country. With that service, soldiers are expected to follow all rules and
regulations. Drug use is wrong, and either soldiers must adhere to these
rules or seek another profession.''