Drug Use

Overview | What to Look For | What to Do | What to Avoid
What to Expect | Troubleshooting

Drug Related Incident Occurs

Overview

Once a drug-related incident has occurred action must be taken.

What to Look For

• Popping positive on a drug screen.

• Arrest for drug-related charges.

What to Do

• When a positive urinalysis occurs, remember that the results are only forensic evidence for the presence of a drug(s) or drug metabolite(s), and are not considered an incident of drug abuse until the Commanding Officer has reviewed all information available and made a determination that an incident of drug abuse has occurred.
• Once the CO determines an incident of drug abuse has occurred then a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report (DAAR) is required.
• Send the Marine for mandatory screening by theSubstance Abuse Control Officer (SACO) and provision of treatment options. 
• Once a Marine is identified as an illegal drug user, the commander must determine what course of action to follow. Paramount to the success of the program is to hold all Marines accountable for their actions. All confirmed incidents of drug abuse require disciplinary action IAW MCO P1700.24B and processing for administrative separation.
• However, separation can be waived in some cases. Each case must be reviewed carefully to include a determination of the individual's status and potential for continued military service. The following options are available:
  • Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers.
    • Processed for separation under other than honorable conditions.
  • Staff Noncommissioned Officers and Noncommissioned Officers. 
    • Evaluated for further service.
    • Non-judicial punishment.
    • Court-Martial.
    • Administrative reduction.
    • Administrative separation administered as appropriate.
    • Special Fitness Report will be used to record confirmed drug use.
  • Enlisted Marines
    • Evaluate for future service.
    • Appropriate judicial or administrative action.
• Any individual diagnosed, as drug dependent must be offered treatment prior to separation. COs are also encouraged to offer treatment to individuals screened as drug abusers prior to separation IAW MCO P1700.24B 3011 paragraph j, but this is not required.

What to Avoid

• Taking matters into your own hands - just follow procedures.

• Not processing confirmed illegal drug users for separation.

What to Expect after Taking Action

• Marine may deny that he has ever used drugs.

• Marine may suggest that he was drunk and someone may have put something in his drink or he may have used unknowingly.

• Marine may rebut the positive result; stating it was generated in error. 
• SACO conducts initial screening and schedules a Substance Abuse Counseling Center evaluation.
• SACO submits CO's background information to SACC.
• SACC evaluates and sends the Marine to Medical screening.
• Medical provides a formal medical diagnosis and treatment recommendation by a licensed clinician.
• SACC takes the medical recommendation and coordinates with the command.
• Recommendation may include education in the form of early intervention, treatment, or no services.
• Marine may have second thoughts about accepting substance abuse education or treatment.
• Here is how the Marine Corps Substance Abuse Education and Treatment Program works:  When an individual is placed in a treatment program, the level of treatment is based upon the diagnosis given by a medical officer. The programs are listed below to give the command a brief understanding of each program and length of services:

Continuing Care

is provided by the treatment facility following treatment, which consists of:

• Designed to acclimate individual back into society with the tools they received during treatment.  Also tracks and identifies any other underlying problems that may exist. Up to six months. 
• Individual and group sessions at the local treatment facility.
• 1-3 hours per week until the treatment plan goals are met.
• Focus on unmet psychosocial needs, personality traits and disorders, and any other concerns to help Marine sustain from the illegal use of substance.

After Treatment

• The SACC prepares a written summary of care for the member's command. The summary may contain referrals for additional medical or social services, and an aftercare plan, including recommendations for ongoing participation in approved self-help groups.

• Commands are responsible, through their Substance Abuse Control Officer, for actively monitoring and supporting aftercare plans. 

• SACOs will meet with members who have active aftercare plans bi-weekly to review progress and provide a written report to the Commanding Officer. 

• If the command identifies difficulties with the recommended actions, the counseling center should be consulted.

• Command monitoring will continue through the completion of the individualized aftercare plan, not to exceed 12 months.

• Some things to watch over: 

  • Recovery/relapse issues
  • Leisure-time activities
• When operational commitments dictate, the aftercare plan may be modified by the Commanding Officer.
• For instance, a counseling center may recommend three Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings per week, but the service  member is TAD or deployed to a location where only one NA meeting per week is held. The Commanding Officer may modify the aftercare plan to include attendance at one NA meeting per week.  - Aftercare is vital for the return of Service member to the work environment, helping the transition of old habits to new habits learned in treatment.

Troubleshooting

If a Marine refuses treatment, a page 11 entry is made and signed by the member and administrative separation processing is initiated as deemed appropriate by the Commanding Officer. However, separation processing may not necessarily result in actual separation. If the Commanding General presiding over the separation board recommends retention, the Marine will be offered treatment and retained until their EAS. At which point the Marine will be released from active duty, as they will be ineligible for re-enlistment. As always, the Marine has a right to rebut the legal system. The Marine can request retention. Leaders responsibilities lie in MCO P1900.16F.  Leaders must support the Marines right to rebut separation.