More soldiers in the Army overall are testing positive for heroin

Opiates killed 8 Americans in Afghanistan, Army records show
By Michael Martinez,
CNN
Sat April 21, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Eight soldiers died of overdoses involving heroin, morphine or other opiates in 2010-11
56 soldiers, including the eight, were investigated for using, possessing or selling the drugs
More soldiers in the Army overall are testing positive for heroin use
The Taliban are believed to be stockpiling opium to finance their activities, U.N. reported

(CNN) -- Eight American soldiers died of overdoses involving heroin, morphine or other opiates during deployments in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011, according to U.S. Army investigative reports.

The overdoses were revealed in documents detailing how the Army investigated a total of 56 soldiers, including the eight who fell victim to overdoses, on suspicion of possessing, using or distributing heroin and other opiates.

At the same time, heroin use apparently is on the rise in the Army overall, as military statistics show that the number of soldiers testing positive for heroin has grown from 10 instances in fiscal year 2002 to 116 in fiscal year 2010.

Army officials didn't respond to repeated requests for comment on Saturday. But records from the service's Criminal Investigation Command, obtained by the conservative legal group Judicial Watch, provided glimpses into how soldiers bought drugs from Afghan juveniles, an Afghan interpreter and in one case, an employee of a Defense Department contractor, who was eventually fired.
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Afghan military recruits found dealing drugs to US soldiers

So it is ok for the Afghans if the soldiers do drugs but not ok if they have a beer? Did we send our troops to protect drug dealers? Are they trying to kill our troops with drugs instead of bombs and bullets? Does any of this make any sense to you?

Afghan military recruits found dealing drugs to US soldiers, Army documents show
By Catherine Herridge
Published April 20, 2012
FoxNews.com

Afghan forces are being trained by the U.S. military to take over the mission by 2014, but new documents obtained by Judicial Watch through a request under the Freedom of Information Act show that some of the Afghan recruits stand accused of dealing drugs to U.S. soldiers.

“It's really troubling that our troops are being placed in this situation where they're under enough pressure as it is,” Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton told Fox News. “But evidently our allies there are acting as drug pushers in some ways.”

Fitton and his investigators found that between January 2010 and December 2011, the Army investigated 56 soldiers in Afghanistan for the possession, use or distribution of opiates. Heroin was cited 26 times.
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Spice and K2 a problem for the Marines?

Marine Corps bans service members from six businesses
Posted: February 11, 2011 - 9:59am
By Bluffton Today
BEAUFORT - Local Marine Corps and Navy commanders have designated six local businesses off-limits for selling a product that is like synthetic marijuana, the Marine Crops said Friday.

"The substances, known by many different names including Spice and K2, are prohibited due to their ability to induce intoxication, excitement or stupefaction," a release said. "All Marines and sailors are prohibited from possessing, purchasing, using, selling, distributing or introducing onto military installations these same substances."

The fake weed is legal in South Carolina.
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Marine Corps bans service members from six businesses

Substance abuse numbers higher, but not drug counselors

The military seems to have a habit of making things go from bad to worse. First they don't do enough to get the soldiers to understand what PTSD, then they do, along with people stepping up across the nation, then they don't have enough people to take care of them. Then they want them to stop using drugs to kill off what they don't want to feel, but yet again, not enough people to take care of them. Like I said, it's like they're trying to hold off a tsunami with a beach shovel!

More soldiers seeking drug abuse help

By Gregg Zoroya - USA TODAY
Posted : Friday Nov 21, 2008 6:48:57 EST

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The number of soldiers seeking help for substance abuse has climbed 25 percent in the past five years, but the Army’s counseling program has remained significantly understaffed and struggling to meet the demand, Army records show.

About 13,500 soldiers sought drug counseling this year and 7,200 soldiers were diagnosed with an abuse or dependency issue and enrolled in counseling, according to Army data. That compares with 11,170 soldiers reporting to drug counseling in 2003, when 5,727 enrolled.

Army records show 2.38 percent of all soldiers had positive results on routine drug urinalysis screening, a 10-year record. In 2004, when combat troops returned from Iraq in large numbers, 1.72 percent had positive results.

The Army requires one drug counselor for every 2,000 soldiers, yet is currently operating with one for 3,100 soldiers, a chronic shortage exacerbated by the increase in substance abuse cases.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/gns_drughelp_112108/