LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) –
Air Force officials released a guidance memorandum June 9 which addresses the use and possession of Salvia Divinorum, Spice and other products used for the purpose of altering mood or function.
The memorandum amends Air Force Instruction 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, provides commanders another tool to address drug abusers and those who abuse otherwise lawful substances, according to Lt. Col. Andrew Foltz, acting chief of military justice for Air Combat Command.
"We've just made it standard policy across the Air Force that the use of these substances for intoxicating or mood altering purposes is now punishable under Article 92 of the UCMJ," Colonel Foltz said.
Salvia Divinorum is a psychoactive hallucinogenic plant. Ingestion may cause intense and dangerous LSD-like psychological and physical effects that may last up to 30 minutes.
Spice is marketed as a marijuana substitute. It usually contains synthetic cannabinoids, the active ingredient in marijuana. The effects of Spice may last six to eight hours and toxicity levels vary.
The Drug Enforcement Administration lists Salvia Divinorum and Salvinorin A, as well as the synthetic cannabinoids found in Spice, as drugs and chemicals of concern.
The memorandum does not outlaw the possession of otherwise legal substances like solvents, household chemicals, glue and prescription drugs, but it does prohibit their use for intoxicating or mood altering purposes.
The AFI governs the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, or ADAPT. It provides guidance for the identification, treatment and management of personnel with substance abuse problems.
Angelo Dart, manager of the ACC Drug Demand Reduction Program, said the program does not focus on one or two substances in particular, but looks carefully at any drug that can potentially cause impairment.
"Any drug that anyone uses can lead to harsher drugs," Mr. Dart said. "The bottom line for us is impairment to the individual, impairment to the mission."
The demand reduction program works to focus more on deterrence than detection. And, there are programs in place for rehabilitation, both long and short term. Mr Dart says if a person has a problem, it is important to stop and get help.
It is important for Airmen to realize that a drug test is not necessary for an abuser to be dealt with legally. More often than not, the consequences are not pleasant.
"Impairment alone is enough for a commander to exercise a decision to say, 'here is what is going to happen now' as a result of your impairment," Mr. Dart said.
The message that should go out to every single Airman is that drug use will not be tolerated.
"At some point in time, it is all going to catch up with you."