AF, Team Andersen continue expanding zero tolerance of illegal drugs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emily A. Bradley
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The Defense Department has expanded its zero tolerance for the use of illicit drugs to include synthetic marijuana, also known as "spice," the director of DOD's drug testing and program policy said in an interview with American Forces Press Service Dec. 15.

In an interview with AFPS and the Pentagon Channel, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tom Martin, director of the of the Department of Defense's drug testing and program policy, said that in addition to the broad range of drugs for which the military already randomly tests service members, synthetic marijuana will also be included.

Andersen is also applying changes to their randomized drug testing procedures at a lab to immediately fit with the DOD's new policy.

"The message we're getting out now is that when you participate in our random urinalysis program, synthetic marijuana products or synthetic marijuana will now be tested along with our other drugs," Martin said. "It's been known in the general population, both in the medical community and various media reports, that synthetic marijuana drug use is a serious health concern."

Synthetic marijuana and illegal drug use will not be tolerated throughout the Air Force. Andersen's leaders are motivated to ensure they are upholding their responsibility of zero tolerance of all illegal drugs.

"(Andersen's) testing lab is fully operational. All service members selected to participate in the urinalysis program here will now be tested for cannabinoids or synthetic marijuana also known as 'spice,'" said Capt. David Shwalb, 36th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight commander. "Airmen will not notice a change in the specimen collection process. However, changes occurred at the labs where the samples are tested."

Martin noted that while the military typically has a much lower level of drug use than in society at large, synthetic marijuana is still a threat to both the safety and readiness of service members.

"Prior to synthetic marijuana being banned," he said, "the department went out and did a random study looking at a sampling of military urine specimens from all the different services to see if synthetic marijuana was being used by our members. At that time, the positive rate, or the number of service members who tested positive, was about 2.5 percent."

To put that in perspective, he said, in 2012 the overall positive rate for all the drugs tested for in the urinalysis program was 0.9 percent.

"In 2012, synthetic marijuana products were banned through legislation," Martin said. "So we went back and did a similar study, and what we found is that the actual numbers went down." However, he added, a high number of service members are using synthetic marijuana.

In addition to testing for synthetic marijuana, Martin said, the military also randomly tests all service members for marijuana, cocaine and drugs in the amphetamine class, including methamphetamines and the dangerous mixture of drugs known as "ecstasy."

The test also looks for codeine and morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, Vicodin, and different diazepines, such as Valium and Xanax.

Martin said even Airmen who are deployed are subject to random drug testing. "They are still mandated to be tested under the military's random urinalysis program; however, the frequency is determined by the operational tempo," he said.

If a random drug testing detects the presence of illegal drugs, Martin said, service members are subject to punishment under military law guidelines.

"This change in policy will only have a positive effect on the (36th) Wing's overall readiness, as those who use illicit drugs are not fit for duty in the first place and constitute only a tiny fraction of our ranks," said Shwalb. "The vast majority of our members here at Andersen strictly adhere to the Air Force core values as it relates to drug use, so this change should have no implications regarding the readiness of most Airmen."

With the addition of synthetic marijuana to an already stringent drug testing policy, Martin reiterated the department's commitment to zero tolerance for the abuse of illicit drugs.

"All service members participating in our urinalysis program will be tested for cannabinoids," Martin said. "And if they do test positive, they will be dealt with according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

(Original article by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyronne C. Marshall, Jr., American Forces Press Service, appeared on www.af.mil Dec. 15, 2013.)