The Wars Third Front

The War’s Third Front

English Composition II

Fawn von Frohling

7 February 2010

The War’s Third Front

Casualties in battle are obvious, the screaming and praying for help and care, the promise that I’ll be a good person if only I can get through this. When the battles change from a warzone to peace, casualties are not as easy to recognize. Multiple deployments, younger leaders, and availability have led to a rise in alcohol and drug use in the Army. Drug use has risen since the deployments began after September 11th, 2001. Prescription medicine abuse has risen due to these deployments and now the Army is trying to help these wounded warriors with the problems they are bringing back from the battlefields.

Attitudes about drug and alcohol use have changed radically over my twenty-three years in the Army. In 1986, the old Vietnam Era Sergeants would tell us about open drug use or drinking during lunch with no repercussions for the use. There was no drug testing then, and even in the early era of drug testing there wasn’t much, if any, punishment for a positive test. I had a friend that tested positive four times for marijuana and cocaine before he was finally separated from the Army in 1987.

When the Army was drawing down in the early 1990’s, one positive test would get a person kicked out. When the Army reached its goal for the draw down and the economy changed, there was trouble making recruiting goals, so a positive test or two wouldn’t get a person kicked out. When the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, the problems seemed to compound. The Army decided it was time to open up a third front to save our Soldiers.

The Army’s policy covering drugs and alcohol is Army Regulation 600-85. This policy covers the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserves. The policy outlines responsibilities and duties of everyone involved with the substance abuse program. The policy also covers the drug testing program for Army. The Army’s policy...