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[Drug abuse among new draftees]
1Infirmeriet, Sjaelsmark Kaserne, Hørsholm.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|March 18, 1996
Summary
Drug testing of young conscripts revealed a 7.8% positive rate for cannabis, with low use of other illicit substances. Urine screening is recommended for future military medical exams to identify moderate cannabis users.
Area of Science:
- Forensic toxicology
- Military medicine
- Public health
Context:
- Investigating drug use patterns in young adults.
- Assessing the prevalence of illicit substance use among military conscripts.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of urine screening in a military population.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of drug use among young conscripts.
- To compare self-reported drug use with objective urine test results.
- To recommend future drug screening strategies for military personnel.
Summary:
- Urine samples from 916 conscripts were screened for cannabinoids, with 7.8% testing positive. A smaller group (429) was tested for amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and benzodiazepines, showing negligible positive results.
- Questionnaire data indicated lower self-reported drug use compared to urine tests, though 3.3% reported daily/weekly cannabis use and 58% admitted prior cannabis experimentation.
- The study concluded that conscripts are not a drug-abusing population but recommended incorporating regular or spot urine test screening into future military medical examinations.
Impact:
- Provides data on drug use prevalence in a young adult military demographic.
- Highlights discrepancies between self-reported and objective drug use measures.
- Informs policy recommendations for drug detection and prevention within the military.