Navy Hails Success of Test in Snaring More Users of Meth

A drug test initiated last month has enabled the Navy to nab about 85% more methamphetamine users than were detected with previous tests, senior officers said Friday.

The methamphetamine test, considered a crucial weapon in the Navy’s efforts to quash drug use, was introduced six weeks ago. Although the Navy has routinely and randomly tested for drug use for years, word had spread that the old tests were unreliable in detecting methamphetamine.

“This has certainly helped us pick up more methamphetamine users--the test is a success,” said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony P. D’Addario, scientific director of the Navy Drug Screening Laboratory, which screened more than 462,000 urine specimens for six different types of drugs in 1988. “I’d hope the people who were able to slip by under the old testing will change their ways and realize we can catch them now.”

Among those Navy personnel who tested positive for drugs in the past six weeks, the most popular drug was methamphetamine, D’Addario said. Of the positive tests, methamphetamines had been used in 39%, marijuana in 32% and cocaine in 29%.

The new test, a radioimmunoassay that was federally approved in September, can detect methamphetamine, as well as designer and derivative drugs such as Ecstasy, MDMA, and “ice,” a smokable form of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is an addictive stimulant that is usually ingested, snorted or injected. And in San Diego, its use has escalated in recent years. Six years ago, local authorities seized six methamphetamine laboratories. In fiscal year 1989, officials snared 96 laboratories that were concocting the illegal drug.

Over the years, increasing numbers of military personnel had been caught using the drug, even though the previous urine test was not foolproof. In 1987, 1,200 tested positive and the following year the number reached 2,500. In 1989, officials believe about 4,000 will be detected.

Cmdr. Darrell Snook, commanding officer of the drug lab, has estimated that the new test will catch 6,500 sailors and Marines next year.

Military officials believe that their drug-testing program has served as a deterrent to drug use and, they say, drug use is decreasing. In 1988, according to a Department of Defense survey, 2% of enlisted men and women across the nation tested positive for drugs, down from 7% in 1983. During the past six weeks in the San Diego area, 2.1% of those tested were positive, down from a reported 2.8% in fiscal year 1988, said D’Addario of the Navy Drug Screening Laboratory, which screens about 9,000 specimens weekly.

“That’s down quite a bit. I think the program is working--that’s almost a 30% drop,” said D’Addario, who added that officials will need more time to see if the drop represents a temporary fluctuation or a true ebb in drug use.

Drug use is considered a serious offense in the Navy. Officers who test positive are automatically discharged. Other personnel are usually given a second chance, though second offenders are generally discharged, officials say. In 1988, there were 6,273 drug-related discharges across the nation. Figures are unavailable for the San Diego area.

Local officials say that, although they are seeing a decline in overall drug use, they will not relent in their detection efforts.