Drug Abuse Rises in USFK

 This is news that is not good hear:

While half of the Seoul-based soldiers busted so far in fiscal 2007 were in trouble for marijuana, those serving in outlying areas were more often abusing prescription medicines such as OxyContin that contain the opiate derivative oxycodone.

Officials at Yongsan Garrison, one of four headquarters for the Army community’s geographic divisions, say they see between five and eight soldiers busted for drug use in an average year. But with more than three months left in fiscal 2007, which ends Sept. 30, they’ve already seen 16 soldiers test positive for drug use. Of those, eight tested positive for marijuana. Only one tested positive for OxyContin.

Drug abuse officials speculate this is because marijuana is more easily obtained in Seoul’s entertainment district than in other areas where servicemembers are located.

One of the things that Korean authorities enforce very strictly are the country’s drug laws, but unfortunately it seems like historically Itaewon seems to get a bit of pass when it comes to lesser drugs like marijuana. The punishment these guys that get caught depends on their battalion commander.  I had a battalion commander who had a policy of an administrative chapter for a positive drug test.  Other commanders I’ve had went with Field Grade 15’s.  It is definitely something that should be a case by case basis, but the punishment should be severe.