The DEA and Military Rx Drugs
By
Bob Brewin
Drugs or alcohol were involved in 29 percent of Army suicides between 2005 and 2010 -- no surprise since the Defense Department hands out prescription drugs like candy on Halloween, as I have reported in Nextgov's Broken Warrior series.
Some of those drugs also are traded by troops, an activity that can lead to abuse and addiction.
Earlier this year Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli decided to kick off of a program to have military hospitals collect excess medications. But, as the Center for a New American Security detailed in its new report on military suicides, the Drug Enforcement Administration nixed this plan. It turns out that only law enforcement personnel can conduct medication take-back programs.
The DEA rejected a request by Chiarelli to have Army medical personnel collect excess drugs -- a perfect example of one government war with itself.