AIR FORCE ACADEMY CRACKING DOWN ON CADET DRUG USE

34 Implicated; More May Face Discipline

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A widening Air Force Academy drug investigation
has swept up as many as 34 cadets -- sophomores to seniors -- who are
implicated or are being questioned, sources say.

Even more cadets could come under scrutiny and face punishment as the
investigation into the use of ecstasy and other illegal party drugs and
body-building substances continues, Col. Brian Binn, vice superintendent of
the academy, said Friday.

"It's clearly good that many (cadets) have come forward and not good that
others have not," Binn said. "There could be more, based on further
investigation."

Already, 20 cadets have been punished or are facing discipline for
allegedly dealing drugs, using drugs or condoning the use or sale of drugs,
the sources said. Condoning means the cadets allegedly knew of the drug use
or dealing but did not report it.

The cadets face punishments ranging from possible court-martial to
expulsion to marching extra tours and losing freedoms, sources said.

Top commanders at the academy are talking directly to all 4,000 cadets
about the issue.

On Thursday, Col. Alfred Coffman, commander of the 34th Training Group,
told juniors and seniors how many of their colleagues were involved and
punished.

A similar briefing is expected tomorrow for sophomores and freshmen.

Coffman told cadets the drugs involved include ecstasy, which is common at
all-night raves, and other drugs, including blue nitro, verve or midnight
blue, billed as helping the user to sleep or build muscle; marijuana; and
dextromethorphan, found in cough syrups, which can cause euphoria and mild
hallucinations when taken in 30 times the recommended dose.

Only one cadet under investigation has been named so far. Senior Cadet
Stephen D. Pouncey is facing a court-martial for allegedly using LSD,
ecstasy, cocaine and methamphetamine and dealing LSD and ecstasy.

Pouncey waived his Article 32, similar to a preliminary hearing, and
academy commanders are considering whether to court-martial him. Pouncey
faces 55 years in military prison.

Coffman told cadets that prosecutors expect to recommend charges against
four cadets later this month and four others could face charges, sources said.

In addition, two cadets have received Article 15s -- nonjudicial punishment
that could end their Air Force careers, sources said.

Nine cadets also have been disciplined under the cadet system of condoning
or tolerating drug use or dealing, the sources said. Those cadets have been
hit with punishments such as extra marching and probation that will take
away freedoms such as leaving base.

And 14 cadets, Coffman reportedly said, remain under investigation.

The drugs allegedly used and sold at the academy, especially ecstasy, are
exploding in popularity among young people, federal drug policy chief Barry
McCaffrey said last week. Several surveys show nearly a doubling of ecstasy
use by high school students in the past two years, he said.

"They think it's a dance-all-night, feel-good drug," said McCaffrey, adding
that users don't realize it can permanently impair brain functions.

Academy commanders are warning cadets about the health dangers of the drugs
and the punishments they face if they do them, deal them or know about
either and say nothing.

The academy's Office of Special Investigations is handling the case. The
federal Drug Enforcement Administration has contacted OSI about it, but the
DEA isn't taking a large role in the case at this time, sources said.

At the Air Force Academy, all incoming freshmen are screened for drugs and
every year 2,700 cadets are randomly tested. But Binn noted the tests don't
always work well on the drugs involved in this investigation.

"A lot of these new drugs have a small window where you can detect them
through urinalysis," he said, adding some are only present for hours.

Some cadets and former cadets said they weren't surprised that some drug
use has been found at the Air Force Academy, but the numbers involved
startled them.

They couldn't believe cadets would jeopardize careers as officers by using
or selling drugs or failing to come forward with information about it.

One cadet said morale has sagged at the academy.

"It's hard to say if morale is down because of the drug case or the drug
case is because of morale," the cadet said.