28 Sailors Investigated for Illegally Using Spice

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Twenty-eight Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) have recently been involved in investigations for illegally using the designer drug Spice.

The use of synthetic drugs in the Navy, to include Spice, is illegal, and the Navy continues to aggressively investigate the use of synthetic drugs and hold those in violation accountable.

The 28 Sailors have been identified as part of six different investigations throughout the past month. All personnel who have been found to have been using illegal substances will be processed for administrative separation in accordance with Navy policy. Violations of the Navy's substance abuse policies include use and possession, and Sailors will be held accountable and separated if appropriate.

"The Navy's policy on drug abuse is simple and clear - zero tolerance," Vice Adm. Gerald R. Beaman, commander U.S. 3rd Fleet, reiterated after a similar event occurred in October. "Drug abuse puts lives and missions at risk and undercuts unit readiness and morale. The use of synthetic drugs, to include Spice, is illegal and the Navy continues to aggressively investigate the use of synthetic drugs and hold those in violation accountable."

The Navy has a series of measures in place to educate Sailors about the perils of drug use and dependency; to deter them from ruining their professional careers and personal lives by choosing to use drugs; and an aggressive program to detect drugs in the unlikely event a Sailor decides to use them.

By holding Sailors accountable for drug abuse, the Navy better protects and retains the overwhelming majority of Sailors who conduct themselves honorably. The Navy continues to actively investigate suspected illicit and designer drug use and possession. If it is determined that additional Sailors have used drugs, those Sailors will be held accountable and if appropriate, processed for separation.

On March 1, 2011, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control five chemicals used to make Spice and other "fake-pot" type products.