Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2008
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Louise Dickson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SIX PER CENT OF NAVY STAFF USE DRUGS, TESTS REVEAL

Rate Below General Population, But Still A Concern To Military

The results of a surprise blind drug test show six per cent of 
Maritime Forces Pacific members are using illegal drugs.

That's less than half the percentage of the general population that 
uses drugs, according to recent studies, but is still unacceptable, 
said navy spokesman Lt. Paul Pendergast.

"It is very concerning," said Pendergast. "And we're taking a 
proactive approach to the issues which includes the military police, 
drug testing and an education program."

The mandatory test was given to 967 members over a three-day period 
in December. The mass testing was prompted by a cocaine sting on HMCS 
Saskatoon, which has resulted in the drug-related convictions of four 
crew members. Since January 2007, there have been 17 convictions of 
navy personnel on drug charges.

"Drugs are prevalent in society and as you've seen with some of the 
court proceedings, there are some individuals in the navy who have 
become involved with illegal drugs and so we needed to find out how 
many. And that's why the testing was done," said Pendergast.

"The commanding officers are very interested in the results."

The urine tests showed 5.2 per cent tested positive for marijuana, 1 
per cent tested positive for cocaine and 0.6 per cent tested positive 
for the prescription painkillers morphine and codeine. No one unit or 
ship showed significantly different scores than other units.

At this time, the navy has no plans to do specific tests, said Pendergast.

"Blind testing results don't give us carte blanche to test 
individuals, but we are still examining the results and coming up 
with a plan which will include further blind testing and possibly 
other sorts of testing. We're keeping all options on the table."

The tests are part of the Canadian Forces' overall drug-testing 
program, which is being carried out on military bases all across the country.

The tests were done by a special team of medical staff. Six different 
units -- two shore units and four ships -- were tested on a random basis.

"The team would go to a unit, like a building, and close off all the 
exits. Before anyone leaves, everyone is tested," explained Pendergast.

Pendergast says the navy plans to step up enforcement at the base to 
deal with the problem. On any given day, there are between 3,000 and 
4,000 members at Maritime Forces Pacific.

According to a 2004 study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 
the rate of marijuana use has been increasing across Canada. The 
percentage of Canadians over the age of 15 who reported cannabis use 
at least once in the 2004 study was highest in B.C. at 16.8 per cent 
and lowest in P.E.I. at 10.7.

A 2007 report by the United Nations found marijuana use in Canada is 
the highest in the industrialized world, far higher than in the 
Netherlands where it's legal, and more than four times the global rate.

The world drug-use study by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said 
that 16.8 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 64 smoked marijuana or 
used other cannabis products in 2004, the most recent year for which 
statistics were cited.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom