Alcohol, Drug Use in Military Lowest Since ‘80, Pentagon Says

Heavy alcohol and drug use among U.S. military personnel is continuing to decline and is at its lowest level since such surveys began in 1980, the Pentagon said today in releasing its 1988 report.

Cigarette smoking has also declined significantly since 1980, according to the final results of the Pentagon’s 1988 “Worldwide Survey of Substance Abuse and Health Behaviors among Military Personnel.”

“The military population is somewhat older, has more officers, has more married personnel and is better educated than in 1980--factors that are associated with lower rates of substance use,” the report said.

The survey showed that use of all non-medical drugs during a one-month period declined from 27.6% of military personnel in 1980 to 4.8% in 1988.

Marijuana use and use of other drugs declined significantly between 1985 and 1988. Marijuana is still the most commonly used drug, with 2.7% of military personnel reporting its use within the last 30 days of taking the survey and 6.1% reporting its use at some time in 1988.