Pubdate: Sun, 28 Mar 2004
Source: Daily Record (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111

JOCKS ARE WORST IN THE ARMY FOR DRUGS

SCOTS soldiers are four times as likely to take class A drugs such as
cocaine and heroin than other British troops.

Figures from the MoD show Scots infantry regiments have the worst drug
record in the Army.

One in 39 tests for banned substances proved positive last
year.

The total of 72 positive out of 2868 tests on Scottish Division
soldiers was the highest proportion of any Army unit.

Experts say increased drug abuse in poor inner city areas is behind
the alarming increase.

The Royal Highland Fusiliers and Royal Scots mainly recruit from
Glasgow and Edinburgh.

And The King's Regiment, which recruits mostly from Manchester and
Liverpool, had the second-worst drugs record.

The 541-strong regiment recorded 72 positive tests out of 4305 last
year, a failure rate of one in 60.

Jane's World Armies editor Major Charles Heyman said: 'You have to
remember these soldiers often go home for the weekend.'

He added: 'If they are going back to cities where drugs are far more
available,the risks are much greater.

'The armed forces generally reflect the rest of society but this sort
of thing is any commanding officer's worst nightmare.

'They are the people who run around with weapons and you can't allow
them to be messing around with drugs.'

Four Army units were given the all-clear while others recorded a fail
rate of between one in 82 and one in 635.

Scottish regiments are already facing a recruitment crisis and could
be cut to two units in the ongoing defence review.

More than 2000 soldiers have been dismissed for failing drugs tests in
the past five years.

The MoD plan to offer rehabilitation programmes as an alternative to
the sack and have signed a UKP3million deal with the Priory chain of
clinics.

An MoD spokeswoman said: 'The figures speak for themselves.

'We take positive drug tests very seriously and there was a small rise
in the Scottish figures.

'I can't think of any specific reason why presumably more people are
taking drugs in Scotland.' 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake