July 6,
2008: While the U.S. military has been
regularly checking the troops for drug use, some still find a way to get high. The
drug testing has resulted in drug use that is far lower among military
personnel than it is with civilians of the same age, education and so on.
But drug
use has not disappeared. Even in uniform, some people want a chemically
enhanced high, and they find a way to get it. The two biggest sources of
semi-legal drug highs are dextromethorphan (or DMX, a cough suppressant found
in many non-prescription cough medicines) and inhalants (oil based products,
other hydrocarbons and many gases with other legitimate uses). This form of
substance abuse breaks out periodically in the military. A base, or ship, will suddenly see a surge in cough syrup
sales, or admissions to the emergency room with people suffering from what
appears to be asphyxiation (from inhalants) or severe hallucinations (from
getting too high). An investigation ensues, the "drug" users are usually
caught. Some are tossed out of the service, others given rehab, and things
settle down.
Only a few
percent of those in the military get caught up with this sort of stuff, and
attempts to completely stamp it out have, so far failed. Education programs,
and reminders of the health and career risks, keeps the outbreaks infrequent
and small.
