DRUG TAKING ON INCREASE IN ARMED FORCES

Drug taking in the armed forces is at a record level, according to the
Ministry of Defence. Five hundred and eighty soldiers, 41 sailors, and
14 RAF personnel were tested positive for controlled drugs between
January and October this year.

Respective figures for the whole of last year - which were also up on
1998 - were 485, 33, and 10.

Of the army's total trained strength of 96,110, 0.26% were tested
positive for cannabis, 0.04 % for cocaine, and 0.1% for other
controlled substances - ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines, benzodiazepines,
or other performance enhancing drugs, Jim Spellar, the armed forces
minister, told Paul Keetch, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, yesterday.

Figures for the navy were respectively 0.4%, 0.01%, and 0.03% of a
total strength of 38,198, and 0.08%, 0.03%, and 0.03% for the RAF
whose personnel totals 50,255.

"We all know that armed forces personnel are under increasing strain,"
said Mr Keetch. "While still small, these figures show a worrying
trend and should serve as a warning sign that we hope and believe the
government will take seriously."

Save in exceptional cases, a positive random test result, or the
refusal to provide a specimen, will lead to army and RAF officers
being required to resign and to administrative discharge in the case
of an RN officer, said Mr Spellar.

Soldiers, ratings, and airmen would normally be administratively
discharged, he said. Personnel of the rank of lance corporal or
equivalent and below may be retained in exceptional
circumstances.