A prominent and highly respected branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is currently in a battle with an enemy that's within itself. For the first time, navy seals will discuss their high abuse rate with the public in a short documentary expected to air on CBS. SEALs are one of the nation's most high-level special forces. However, they obviously have no immunity in the war on drugs. Their leadership has ignored the Substance Abuse for years. CBS News network will conduct an investigation, present facts of drug addiction among the Navy ranks and reveal them in a two-part series.
The first episode airs next Tuesday on "CBS Nightly News." The second part continues the following Wednesday on "CBS Today."
Three SEALs testify in docuseries
Three Navy SEALs, one active duty, and two no longer enlisted, claim many of their fellow sailors have tested positive for a vast array of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and methamphetamines. In the episode, one of them firmly states that the situation has indeed become a terrible problem.
“I’m getting to the bottom of this because I'm not pleased to be in the naval community due to the path that it's heading into," was what one Navy Seal said as he came forward to address the matter.
Last year in December, the Navy halted all training and demanded a security stand-down due to the complicated drug issue.
Captain Sands looks to change Navy's drug policy
“Personally, I feel like I see our foundation, our culture eroding before my eyes, ” said Capt. Jamie Sands. He is the commander of more than 900 SEALs serving along the nation's East Coast. Sands has only been working for three months, and already five of his SEALs have tested positive for drugs.
Each SEAL is now mandated to sign up for his substance abuse meetings or view them online. The meetings are expected to address the Navy's increase in drug incidents compared to other branches currently serving as U.S. Armed Forces.
The Navy is required to submit to random drug testing just like the rest of the military. However, during basic military training and practices, SEALs aren't tested because they station in a place that's not their home base.
The drug abuse is so frequent because sailors are always away from the base due to there always being a constant demand for their skills.
Captain Jamie Sands vows to change that. The Navy has already faced many risks from having their tactics exposed all over the world. Their recruits have drug addictions. That problem only puts them in even more danger. Captain Sands is now taking command of this drug war. His decision comes after a vast number of his Navy SEALs stated that they hadn't received a random urinalysis testing for the use of narcotics in over three years.
