Army drug checks expanded as 34 soldiers fail tests

STRINGENT drug tests are to be carried out on Irish soldiers by Europe’s largest narcotic testing company.

The random drug and alcohol testing will see soldiers serving overseas and members of the reserve also tested following the army’s expansion of the screening programme, which was introduced last year.

Tests will include screening for the abuse of drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show more than 8,400 soldiers have been tested since the screening of soldiers began in 2005.

The figures reveal:

* 34 soldiers tested positive for banned substances.

* 21 of these soldiers have been discharged.

* 13 soldiers who tested positive are currently appealing cases.

* The positive drug tests represent 0.4% of the Irish army

The Defence Forces said continued screening for illegal substance abuse among others would help get the message across to soldiers that there was no space for the abuse of drugs in the job.

“It’s an effective deterrent,” explained Defence Forces spokesman and Commandant Gavin Young.

“Consumption of illegal drugs is simply incompatible with service life and our random drugs testing programme ensures that we have a strong deterrent and to identify those abusing drugs,” he added.

Concateno, the company that has won the €60,000 contract to test Defence Forces members, has said that it would carry out the bulk of its random screening in barracks and would, if called upon, be ready for rapid testing scenarios overseas.

A total of 10% of soldiers would be screened randomly over the next year and this would include members serving in the army, the navy, the reserve as well as those on peacekeeper duty abroad.

By the end of next year, an estimated 10,000 tests would have been conducted.

Once a sample from an Irish soldier tests positive, the sample is sent to the company’s laboratory in London for more detailed analysis.

This is necessary in order to differentiate between prescription drugs and illegal substances.

lFor more information about the drug tests for Irish soldiers, visit www.military.ie.