Five academy students face drug use allegations

Five midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy are being disciplined for allegedly using drugs, an academy spokesperson said Monday. The spokesperson, Cmdr. David McKinney, said in an emailed statement that the academy has started the administrative disciplinary process for five students who allegedly used drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and mushrooms. Another four are being disciplined for failing to report the behavior. Discipline from the academy could include demerits, loss of privileges, restriction or separation from the school, McKinney said. Both the academy and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the alleged drug use. McKinney said Monday that the NCIS probe is continuing. The investigation has been underway since late November, when two midshipmen reported the alleged drug use.