Drug Demand Reduction program helps deter drug use

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Phyllis Keith
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Thirty-two active duty members entering Kirtland between midnight and 3 a.m. April 2 were subjected to a random urinalysis.

First Sergeants and volunteers from across Team Kirtland directed vehicles at the Gibson Gate to follow road blocks leading to the base swimming pool, where every third vehicle carrying a military member was tagged for a drug test.

The gate sweep, dubbed Operation Nighthawk, was a drug deterrence effort coordinated by Kirtland's Drug Demand Reduction team.

"It's not our job to catch people. We're all about deterrence," said Stephen Adams, the Drug Demand Reduction program manager with the 377th Medical Operations Squadron.

In addition to gate sweeps such as Operation Nighthawk, the DDR uses command-directed testing, mishap testing, probable-cause testing, consent testing and unit sweeps to test military and civilian members for drug use. He said they have the capability of testing for numerous drugs, including, but not limited to, THC, cocaine, heroin, Oxycontin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and a-synthetic marijuana, known as spice.

Per Air Force Instruction, Adams and Margaret Stinson, DDR program administrator, must test 100 percent of the active-duty population each year, and 50 percent of the civilians in testing drug positions, or TDPs.

Adams said 3,256 military members and approximately 750 civilians in TDPs were currently in his pool, which meant he would test at least 3,631 individuals this year.

"We've already conducted four unit sweeps this year where we've tested more than 1,000 individuals," said Adams.

Normally, those selected for testing are chosen randomly.

"People don't understand what random is," Adams said. "You're in the pool every day. We have some people who get tested two to three times in a week. We have some people who go two to three years without being tested. You just never know."

In the first quarter of 2016, the DDR office has had three positives - one military member tested positive twice for Temazepam and one tested positive for THC.  

Kirtland had 26 positives amongst the active duty in 2015, fifteen of which were new. Adams said one person tested positive five times for heroin, and one member tested positive for steroids and was subsequently discharged.

"The Air Force does not tolerate the illegal or improper use of drugs--it is a serious breach of discipline and is not compatible with service in the Air Force," said Maj. John Reardon, 377th Mental Health Flight commander. "You do lose your career."

The first quarter of 2016 saw no civilian positives. For 2015, one civilian employee tested positive for cocaine, and two job applicants tested positive for methamphetamine and THC. 

Reardon said because of the legal implications related to specimen collections, chain of custody and shipment, error-free attention to detail is paramount.

The 32 urine samples collected during this last Operation Nighthawk were shipped to the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, for analysis. The results will not be available for two to three weeks.

Reardon said in addition to deterrence, the goal of random testing is to assist commanders in assessing the security, military fitness, readiness, and good order and discipline of their commands.

"It is crucial that we maintain the health and wellness of a fit and ready fighting force as well as a drug-free Air Force community," he said. "We hope people will make smart decisions and not misuse drugs."