News

Spice isn’t nice – or legal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Airmen may not know they are doing it, but they are putting their careers in jeopardy.

The Air Mobility commander issued a general order Nov. 2, 2010, prohibiting the use of any intoxicating substance. Doing so is a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice with the possibility of court-martial, Article 15 or other disciplinary and administrative action.

The Air Force has a zero tolerance policy on illicit substances, regardless of its local legality. One synthetic marijuana product known as Spice, is not banned in Delaware, however, use by military members is prohibited under the zero tolerance policy. Some of the cannabinoids found in synthetic cannabis (Spice) are listed under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

"A lot of the folks trying to provide these substances try to find loopholes in the law," said Michael Waring, 436th Medical Operations Squadron Drug Demand Reduction program manager. "Most of the time they market them as something not for human consumption, with the understanding that it will be consumed anyway."

Another risk to using these substances is the lack of quality control in their production. Many are made in developing countries, with no oversight on batch strength. One cannot know the difference in strength between two batches. This could be fatal as synthetic marijuana is 80 to 100 times stronger than regular marijuana, said Mr. Waring.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main substance found in cannabis. Signs of THC overdose include headaches, panic attacks, increased heart rate and intense paranoia.

"The danger of Spice is that it only takes five to 10 minutes to affect you, then lasts anywhere from six to eight hours," said Mr. Waring. "While you're under the influence, you're not only threatening your own life, but the life of all of your comrades as well."
The Air Force began testing for Spice in February. It tests for Spice by looking for certain metabolites in the servicemember's urine sample. These metabolites tell the testers how much of what substances a person has been using.

"While wearing the uniform people rely on you to do the job properly," said Mr. Waring. "If a member is using an illicit substance, they are basically playing Russian Roulette with their career."

Not only does the DDRP test servicemembers, they test civilians as well. At Dover, they conduct about 5,000 military drug tests a year, and by year's end are planning to conduct about 1,400 civilian tests. The program averages about 300 to 350 tests a month.

"The entire base is our customer," said Mr. Waring. "Our job is to keep the Air Force drug free so they can accomplish their mission."

The urine sample testing is done in two separate labs. Active-duty samples go to Brooks City-Base, Texas, while civilian samples are shipped to Fort George G. Meade, Md. The test samples take about two weeks to be tested and the results are posted on a system the DDRP program accesses daily.

Less than one percent of Air Force personnel (including civilians) have been found to have used illicit substances or have misused controlled substances.

The average amount of positive results is about one a month, said Kathy Penniston-Smith, 436 MDOS DDRP assistant manager. However, not all positives are for illicit substances, some are for valid prescriptions.

"Of course, popping positive on a prescription can be just as bad as an illicit substance," said Mrs. Penniston-Smith. "If you're taking too much of your prescription, that can put up red flags, as well as taking a prescription after it expires."
The best way to get rid of old prescriptions is to crush them up and mix them in with used coffee grounds and throw them away, or simply pour the liquid prescriptions down the drain, said Mrs. Penniston-Smith.

The DDRP is not just about drug testing, they also seek to educate and prevent drug use from occurring. One way they do this is through the Drug Education for Youth, or DEFY program.

DEFY is an outreach program for ages 9 - 12. It is built on a curriculum that stresses drug awareness and establishes good refusal skills. The mentoring program is run completely by volunteers. It is a two-phase program that begins with a group trip. There are then follow-up meetings between the adolescents and their mentors in phase II.

"We also do a big outreach push during Red-Ribbon Week," said Mrs. Penniston-Smith. "And we go into the local schools, when requested. We also attend commander's calls."

The DDRP program also runs a random test schedule and will sometimes sweep units, the gates or areas on base with random tests. They can also be called in by commanders after a mishap to test those involved. The DDRP can test seven days a week if required.

"Some days we start testing as early as four in the morning," said. Mrs. Penniston-Smith. "The system picks the days we test randomly. If it is a testing day we call the trusted agents, who call the person selected for the test. When the selectee is told they are testing, they have one hour to report to our location. Each person must remain in the testing facility until a sample is given."

The program is a base-wide effort. Observers are from different units on base and rotate every 30 days. There is also a noncommissioned officer-in-charge who rotates every 90 days.

"We're a community effort," said Mrs. Penniston-Smith. "Everybody has a hand in keeping the base drug free."