AIRMEN PASS DRUG SCREENING AT LANGLEY WITH FLYING COLORS

The results of a recent random drug test of 123 airmen entering Langley Air
Force Base are heartening for base officials who instituted a strict
drug-testing policy in late 2000 after a drug ring was found on the base.

The testing took place in the early morning hours of July 20 - after
midnight on a Friday night - when every airman entering the Hampton base
was ordered to the base hospital for testing.

One person was found driving under the influence of alcohol, but no service
member tested positive for illegal drug use, according to base spokesman
Capt. David May.

Drug testing at Langley increased dramatically after an undercover sting
operation found a drug ring on base in the spring of 2000. The ring used
and sold several types of drugs but primarily dealt in the club drug Ecstasy.

Nearly 30 airmen faced courts-martial starting in December 2000, with most
being either sentenced to jail, tossed from the service or both.

As a result, the base began testing a far higher percentage of its
personnel than required by the Air Force - 95 percent annually compared to
65 percent. Those results showed that Langley's positive drug-test rate was
well below rates in the rest of the Air Force.

Now that drug use appears to be under control, Langley officials plan to
cut the testing program back to Air Force standards. But more surprise drug
checks are planned.