Defence force hit by spike in drug use

ICE and speed are now the most abused drugs in the Australian Defence Force with positive tests for the dangerous amphetamine sparking the sackings of dozens of soldiers and active investigations into many more.

In the last year alone, 133 defence force members tested positive to illegal drugs, resulting in 28 soldiers being discharged and 87 still formally under investigation.

The details are contained within internal briefing documents exclusively obtained by News Corp, which reveal the extent of drug abuse within the military and the way soldiers with addiction are cast aside.

In the documents the nation’s defence force was warned that ice abuse had become the most prevalent problem, accounting for the overwhelming majority of positive test results.

Cocaine abuse was a close second with defence force bosses blaming its prevalence in the wider public and ease of access for a spike in usage.

Since July last year, 49 soldiers tested positive to amphetamines and methamphetamines as the defence force ramped up testing methods, including the launch of a hair and saliva test trial in addition to urine tests.

The trial finished this year but the defence force has remained tight-lipped on what it found.

Target testing was also conducted on 69 soldiers in the 12 months leading up to June 30 with 13 out of 69 tested returning positive readings.

The catch rate of 18.8 per cent was a major concern to Australian Defence Force managers. A defence force spokesman said the number of soldiers who tested positive for amphetamines or methylamphetamine was small given that 25 per cent of the defence force was tested each year.

“The retention of members who have a positive prohibited substance test result or who identify themselves as having a prohibited substance dependency, will depend on the individual circumstances of the case,” the spokesman said.