The Department of Navy Drug Testing Policy
With excellent job prospects, good pay and a guaranteed retirement, a naval career can be a rewarding, lifelong venture. However, the Navy has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to using drugs. If you're in the Navy, be prepared to be randomly tested for drugs throughout your career.
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History of the Zero Tolerance Program
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According to Stars and Stripes, the 1981 nighttime crash of an EA-6B prowler onto the deck of the USS Nimitz was the catalyst for the Navy's zero tolerance toward drugs program. The Prowler slammed onto the flight deck and killed 14 people; of the 14 killed, 6 tested positive for marijuana. Shortly after the crash, the Navy's zero tolerance for drug use policy was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
Drugs Included in the Policy
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The Navy's zero tolerance policy covers illegal drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine. In addition to illegal drugs, the Navy also monitors for signs of abuse of common household products, anabolic steroids or over-the-counter medications like cough syrup that can be used as recreational drugs. Drunk driving is also covered in the policy; sailors who get a second DUI offense will most likely be looking at expulsion from the Navy.
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The Policy
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U.S. naval commands are no longer required to perform an annual drug testing sweep of entire commands. The policy as of February 2011 mandates that commands must perform at least four tests a month that includes at least 15 percent of the command's sailors. In addition to the random drug testing, commands with over 500 members are assigned a permanent drug and alcohol program advisor. Sailors who test positive for drugs are usually separated from the military.
Numbers of Sailors Testing Positive
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According to Stars and Stripes, 6,279 out of 934,000 sailors tested positive for illegal drugs in 2001. In 2008, the number of sailors testing positive decreased dramatically; only 2,120 samples out of 1.19 million tested positive for illegal drugs. The Navy's goal is to completely eliminate drugs from the naval ranks; it is thought that the increase in the number of random drug tests has a large part in the decrease.
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References
- Photo Credit marijuana leaf in a
