Comment

Comment by SailorSeansDad(Ship12Div354) on October 27, 2010 at 3:13pm

Pentagon launches anti-spice campaign

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 14, 2010 5:23:18 EDT

High-level military officials are sounding the alarm about the dangers of synthetic marijuana that is sold legally as “spice.”

The Pentagon Channel is promising “an in-depth look at spice” through October.

“One bad dose could cost you your life,” Marine Staff Sgt. Josh Hauser, an anchor for a Pentagon Channel news program, said during an Oct. 1 broadcast.

On the same day, the American Forces Press Service published an article warning about the health problems and disciplinary measures troops can suffer if they smoke spice or similar products.

A slew of official videos about spice are also popping up on Facebook, iTunes and YouTube.

The official message conveys an urgent health risk and warns troops that smoking the chemical-soaked herbal blend is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a wrongful use of “any intoxicating substance not intended for human ingestion.”

One video refers to marijuana as “the devil you know” and spice as “the devil you don’t.”

“You may one day have a bag that gives you the effect of normal marijuana ... but then again you may have something that is 100 times more potent and could lead to death,” Capt. Kevin Klette, a Navy doctor and head of the Defense Department’s Drug Demand Reduction Program, said in a video posted on Facebook.

Military officials acknowledge that the drug is difficult, if not impossible, to catch in routine urinalysis tests.

“We have a difficulty detecting it,” Army Col. Timothy Lyons, chief of toxicology in the Defense Department’s medical examiner’s office, said in the same video.

Experts say spice is a blend of common herbs treated with synthetic cannabinoids, which are chemicals that affect the brain in a manner similar to the active ingredients in marijuana.

The DoD information campaign about spice comes about two years after military officials began identifying the problem.

Army criminal investigators first heard reports of soldiers using synthetic marijuana in 2008. In 2009, a top general issued an Army-wide warning flagging spice as a growing problem.

In the Marine Corps, early problems arose in Japan, prompting Marine commanders to issue a ban there in September 2008. Last July, the Marine base commander at Camp Lejeune, N.C., sent a letter to local merchants urging them to stop selling spice to people who may be Marines.

The Navy reported a large-scale bust in July 2009 on the Japan-based aircraft carrier George Washington, resulting in 15 sailors getting kicked out of the Navy for smoking spice.

The Navy issued a servicewide ban in March.

The Air Force has caught dozens of airmen smoking spice during the past year and explicitly banned it in June.

Comment by musicmom of a Sailor on October 27, 2010 at 3:04pm

To tell the truth, I don't remember for sure but I think he did. I was just so relieved to hear his voice. lol

I could tell he was tired and relieved cause he sounded kind of punchy. He's a quiet guy and he was cracking jokes right and left.

Comment by Cheryl Mom Nuke ET on October 27, 2010 at 3:02pm

Just got off the phone awhile ago. Proud mom of a sailor!!!! I'm so happy for all of them!! Congratulations to Divisions 353 and 354!!! My thoughts are with Nathan, his family and now Division 853.

Comment by cheryllynn-proud mom of a sailor on October 27, 2010 at 3:01pm

mm-did you make him say it.....mine just avoided it and I made him say it.....hooyah!!!!!!
seansdad...yes, they are tired and they are letting them have soda or energy drinks to stay awake.....

Comment by SailorSeansDad(Ship12Div354) on October 27, 2010 at 2:56pm

That is correct and why I mentioned it. It is sold in stores (convenience stores and such) but the Navy does not allow it. They might be told that it is safe and legal and then find out too late that they are in big trouble and out of the Navy.

Comment by musicmom of a Sailor on October 27, 2010 at 2:54pm

SeansDad - I heard about that from another mom on the Nuke Mom group. Her son got kicked out a few weeks ago because of that. It's legal in South Carolina but not in the Navy.

Comment by SailorSeansDad(Ship12Div354) on October 27, 2010 at 2:52pm

Just 2 FYI's..
1) my son said he'll have to see what the watch schedule is for Friday and Saturday before he can make plans so I assume they may have to be back early for that if it's "their turn".
2) a young man that I work with just got discharged from the Navy (he was in Nuke school like my son will be) for smoking something called "Spice". Apparently it's very popular but not allowed by the Navy and they can and will throw someone out for smoking it. Might be worth a mention to your new Sailors to steer clear if someone offers it.

Comment by musicmom of a Sailor on October 27, 2010 at 2:52pm

He said hello and I asked him if he had anything to say to me. His response was "well, you're still coming on Friday, right?" lol

Comment by musicmom of a Sailor on October 27, 2010 at 2:51pm

My son said the same thing about staying awake. He joked that maybe those video game marathons he had with his friends were good for something. lol

Comment by SailorSeansDad(Ship12Div354) on October 27, 2010 at 2:49pm

Got the call! He's been up for 50 hours and gets to sleep tonight at 8:00. He said if they doze off for even 5 mins they get sent back 2 weeks!! I told him to stay awake and that I'd see him Friday. And he said that all of his division passed.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 33
• 34
• 35
• 36
• 37
• …
• 211
• Next ›
• Page