Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2008/Testing times - alcohol and other drugs
By LEUT Sarah Chapman - Director Navy Alcohol and Other Drugs Service
Prohibited substance testing program
Random breath testing for the presence of alcohol in Navy workers has shown a slight decline in the number of positive results from last year to this year.
But they demonstrate continued abuse of alcohol by some people.
And testing for prohibited drugs over two years shows a constant levels of positive results in both the Australian Defence Force and the Navy but results a fraction of the Australian national average.
The prohibited substance testing program (PSTP), under Part VIIIA of the Defence Act 1901, began on June 16, 2005 as a deterrent for the use of prohibited substances amongst military members.
The PSTP requires Navy, Army and Air Force to test at least 10 per cent of their uniformed personnel annually - and there are no restrictions on when or why a member can be tested.
Since its inception, monthly statistics have been provided to the Secretary for Defence (SECDEF), Chief of Defence Force (CDF) and Service Chiefs showing the number of prohibited substance tests (PSTs) conducted, the units/ships tested, the number of positive test results and the type of substance detected.
An analysis of PSTP data since June 2005 found that:
- The percentage of positive test results had remained constant (1.85 per cent in 2005/06 to 1.82 per cent in 2006/07) (for Navy this is 2.94 per cent in 2005/06 to 3.71 per cent in 2006/07; and
- Based on recent Australian drug use figures (15 per cent), PS usage in the ADF was very low (less than 2 per cent).
- The most common substances detected under the PSTP were cannabis (42 per cent), followed by MDMA (ecstasy) (25 per cent) and methamphetamine (otherwise known as ice) (20 per cent).
Data for members who have tested positive for prohibited substances began on July 1 last year. Of the 41 ADF members who tested positive to prohibited substances between July and October 2007, most were aged 21 years, had served in the military for five years or less and all but two (a junior officer and a senior non-commissioned officer) were LS(E) or below.
Notwithstanding the different procedures by each of the Services, testing across the ADF is generally random in nature and does not afford ADF members any degree of predictability.
Testing has included initial trainees and star ranked officers, and has been conducted across all types of units within the ADF and in all geographical areas. Testing is conducted for both full-time and part-time (reserve) units/personnel.
Alcohol testing
The ADF has a duty of care to its members to maintain a safe workplace. Problematic use of alcohol or alcohol dependence can contribute to accidents in the workplace, illness, anti-social behaviour and diminished performance and is incompatible with the expectations and the inherent requirements of Service life.
Navy has developed a holistic approach to managing problematic and dependent use of alcohol through the Navy Alcohol and Other Drugs Program (RANAODP).
The program includes education, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. Volunteer personnel from ships and establishments trained to be a first point of contact for Navy personnel who think they may have a problem are known as Alcohol and Drug Program advisors (ADPAs).
The testing of members in defined safety critical areas (SCA) supports this program. Every effort is made to assist members but continued and prolonged problematic or dependent alcohol use may result in administrative action being taken against a member (which can, and has, included members being discharged).
Testing is a tool available to command to assist in maintaining the safety, health and welfare of all personnel, and command is responsible for the conduct of such testing.
Personnel in a SCA, or visiting a SCA, or having a liability to perform a safety critical activity are liable to be tested at any time. Testing can be conducted as part of a random testing regime, or targeted to specifically identified areas or personnel.
CDF, the Service Chiefs or their delegates may direct alcohol testing to take place at any time and have complete authority with regard to the number of units to be subjected to testing during any specified period, the number of units to be tested, and the frequency with which testing is carried out.
Further information on SCAs, testing procedures and associated administrative action can be found in DI(G) PERS 15-4.
For the period January-March this year, 4344 random breath tests were conducted, returning 85 positive tests. Of those, 27 were from two major fleet units and a total of 31 were referred to the Alcohol and Drug Program coordinators for counselling and further review.
While these results are marginally less than for the same period in 2007 (3346 tests, 143 positive results), they demonstrate continued abuse of alcohol by some people.
Repeat offenders can, and are, subject to termination action as a result of alcohol abuse in the interest of occupational health and safety, and Navy’s duty of care.
Alcohol abuse can, and does, lead to the use of prohibited substances, and similarly, conflicts with the Navy Values which should underpin our professional and personal behaviour.
Navy people who think they may have a problem or are interested in more information and who have access to the Defence Restricted Network can visit the ADF Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) website for further information (http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/mhsf/default.asp?page=10481).
Alternatively, members may choose to contact their ship or establishment ADPA or an RANAODP counsellor in their posting locality. Contact details for the RANAODP are:
Director Navy Alcohol and Other Drugs Service
LEUT Sarah Chapman
R8-LG-026
Telephone (02) 6265 3600
Western Australia Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinator (WAADPC)
LEUT Hugh Jones
Fleet Base West
Telephone (08) 9553 5297
Northern Territory Substance Abuse Counsellor (NT-SAC)
CPOWTR Joy Newman
HMAS Coonawarra
Telephone (08) 8935 5673
Eastern Region Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinator (ER-ADPC)
LCDR Dee Williams
Fleet Base East
Telephone (02) 9359 3187
Far North Queensland Substance Abuse Counsellor (FNQ-SAC)
CMDR Sharon Daniels
HMAS Cairns
Telephone (07) 4031 6448
Southern Region Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinator (SR-ADPC)
LEUT Rod Gillies
HMAS Cerberus
Telephone (03) 5950 7432
