The Nation : Military Drug, Alcohol Abuse Declines

Drug and alcohol abuse in the armed forces is steadily declining from the alarming levels of 1980, Pentagon officials said. The percentage of military personnel acknowledging use of illicit drugs in the 30 days before being surveyed dropped from 27% in 1980, to 19% in 1982, 9% in 1985 and 5.5% in 1988. In the latest survey, the 17,213 men and women taking part did not put their names on the forms, and the exercise was not intended to root out abusers. Random urine tests of suspected drug abusers also show declining use, officials say. Drinking also fell, the survey concluded. Heavy drinking, defined as five or more drinks at least once a week, was reported by 9%, down from 12% in 1985.