Sense and Nonsense in the Army's Drug Abuse Prevention Effort

摘要

As part of the effort to balance the federal budget, the Administration has proposed closing as many as 1000 drug abuse programs in the civilian sector. Similar pressures within the military sector can be expected. If history is an indicator, slots will be eliminated and programs dismantled. After a predictable interval, there will be allegations that the Army is insensitive to drug use in its ranks, followed by publicity about the latest drug threat. These in turn will result in the hiring of new personnel and the creation of new drug abuse and prevention programs. Cycling every four to five years from drug crisis to drug crisis, the Army's drug abuse prevention program maintains itself, but at a price of cynicism on the part of those who have worked to establish credible programs and at a price of program credibility on the part of commanders who have responded to the cry of wolf too many times in the past. Perhaps there is a better way. The purpose of this paper is to suggest alternatives to the current Army drug abuse prevention program which are based on clinical and research experience over the past ten years.