The Navy SEALS have a reputation for being some of the best that the U.S. armed forces have to offer. These soldiers go through extensive and continuous training to hone their skills. There have been numerous reports of problems with drug use among these members of the United States military, sparking quite a bit of controversy.
Growing Drug Problem
An anonymous Navy SEAL spoke out in 2017 about the growing substance abuse problem among his fellow soldiers. A mandatory meeting was held in response to the growing concern of drug abuse among the SEALS. This was the first time that the public became aware of this issue on a wide scale.
Captain Jason Salata, a spokesman for the Naval Special Warefare Command, denied the assertion that drug abuse is a widespread issue. He claimed that the Navy tests 15% of SEALS each month via urinalysis.
Over the last several years, numerous members of the Navy SEALS have tested positive for cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, and methamphetamine.
Drug Testing Policy
The United States Navy is supposed to drug test SEALS randomly, but it doesn’t always work out that way. It is clear that these members of the military are not always tested when they aren’t at their home base. A few SEALS told CBD News that they have not been drug tested in a number of years.
Captain Sands pledged to make drug testing SEALS a more regular occurrence back in 2017, but it is unclear as to whether or not things have really changed. The increased number of positive drug tests over the last few years suggest that the Navy has started cracking down on this issue a lot more.
Sands also told reporters that the Navy plans to test on deployment as well to find out if any SEALS are currently using illicit substances.
Drug Testing
Wide scale drug testing of over 6,000 different SEALS yielded only seven positive tests. This testing was done suddenly and without any advance notice.
A total of 71,436 SEALS were tested for drugs via urinalysis between August of 2014 and February of 2017.
In 2017, one SEAL who received numerous positive drug tests was dishonorably discharged from the military.
Back in May of 2018, it was announced that a total of ten Navy SEALS tested positive for a variety of illegal substances. These tests were carried out by Naval Special Warfare units, which are located on the east coast.
The U.S. Navy stated that they have a zero tolerance policy with regards to the use of illegal drugs. They also promised that the SEALS who tested positive would be held accountable for their actions, though no details were given.
Reasons for Drug Use
It is very likely that there is such a high degree of drug use among Navy SEALS due to the stressful nature of their occupation. These members of the armed forces are regularly put through rigorous training exercises and put in dangerous situations.
A big part of the concern, both within the military and the general public, is that some Navy SEALS may not be trustworthy. This is due to both their lying about personal drug use as well as perhaps having a compromised state of mind. SEALS need an incredible amount of focus to do their jobs well, which is something that drug abuse can compromise.
Final Thoughts
It appears as though the Navy has taken steps to reduce the number of SEALS who use illegal drugs, as evidenced by the increased positive tests. It is unclear just how widespread of a problem this really is today.
