WASHINGTON, D.C. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Department of Defense (DoD) announced Wednesday the expansion of drug testing for all applicants for military service. The expansion includes the same 26-drug panel used for active duty military members.
The change, effective April 3, is due to the level of illicit and prescription medication abuse among civilians, as well as the increase in heroin and synthetic drug use within the civilian population, Army Col. Tom Martin explained in a release.
Currently, military applicants are tested for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines (including methamphetamine), and designer amphetamines such as MDMA (also known as “Molly” or “Ecstasy”), and MDA, also known as “Adam”.
The expanded testing will include those drugs as well as heroin, codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and a number of synthetic cannabinoids and benzodiazepine sedatives.
The new standards apply to all military applicants, including recruits entering through military entrance processing stations, as well as appointees to the service academies, incoming members of the ROTC, and officer candidates undergoing initial training in an enlisted status.
DoD says about 279,400 applicants are processed for entry into military service each year, with roughly 2,400 of them testing positive for drugs. Data indicates that about 450 additional people will test positive using the expanded testing.
The updated policy allows applicants who test positive to reapply after 90 days, if the particular service allows it. Any individual who tests positive on the second test is permanently disqualified from military service. However, the services have the discretion to apply stricter measures and can disqualify someone after one positive test.
Current policy allows for different standards for reapplication depending on the type of drug. The updated policy is universal and allows only one opportunity to reapply for military service regardless of drug type.
You can read the full directive here.