Methamphetamine In The Military

Talk to anyone who has experienced the environment of war, whether it's a soldier, a reporter, or a civilian, and you'll find a common sentiment among them - "Once you've seen it - up close, you're never the same." War is an all out assault on the senses, and the psychological wounds go just as deep as the physical, and take much longer to heal, and in many cases, they never do.

And of course the major difference between psychological wounds and physical wounds encountered in war is that psychological wounds aren't nearly as "acceptable" as physical wounds. For physical wounds suffered by a soldier while serving in the military, they get awarded a Purple Heart, and are lauded as a hero. But psychological wounds suffered are different, because they are antithetical to the soldier "image." In other words, soldiers are supposed to be tough, resilient, and unaffected psychologically by it all.

But of course, that's a myth, and you needn't go further than just listening to a veteran of Vietnam, Korea, World War II, or World War 1 describe their experiences to know that even after several decades they are still profoundly affected by what they saw, heard and felt. In many cases, they are still wounded. And the military doesn't hand out awards for depression, anxiety, or any other manifestation of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The point is, drugs like methamphetamine are a perfect solution to reducing those qualities in a human being that don't "fit" in with combat and war. Qualities like compassion, empathy, pacifism, etc. And the use of anything that artificially achieves this "reduction of what it is to be human," is to say the least, dangerous.

In a memo outlining technology objectives, the US Special Operations Command notes that the special-forces "operator" (soldier) of the future can expect to rely on "ergogenic substances" (such as performance-enhancing drugs used by some athletes) "to manage environmental and mentally induced stress and to enhance the strength and aerobic endurance of the operator. Other physiological enhancements might include ways to overcome sleep deprivation, ways to adjust the circadian rhythms to reduce jet lag, as well as ways to significantly reduce high altitude/under water acclimatization time by the use of blood doping or other methods."

Although the Air Force Surgeon General's office recently acknowledged that "prescribed drugs are sometimes made available to counter the effects of fatigue," it is not publicly known how widespread the practice is or whether special-operations forces on the ground in Afghanistan are taking such drugs. But it is certainly widely talked about among combat veterans and military experts.

John Pike, a defense expert with GlobalSecurity.org in Alexandria, Virginia states, "Given the extent of recreational drug use within the military, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs among athletes, it is very easy to imagine that warriors would consider using any manner of drug they thought would increase their chance of returning home alive."

During the Gulf War, according to one military study, "pilots quickly learned the characteristics of the stimulant (Dexedrine) and used it efficiently." Pilots were issued the pills and took them if and when they felt the need. And some are candid in defending this practice. "If you can't trust them with the medication, then you can't trust them with a $50 million airplane to try and kill someone," says one squadron commander whose unit had the fewest pilots but flew more hours and shot down more Iraqi MIGs than any other squadron. But military officials, as well as medical experts, warn that "the use of amphetamines can clearly have its bad side." Bad side? That is an understatement!

The flight surgeon's guide to "Performance Maintenance During Continuous Flight Operations" (written by the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory in Pensacola, Florida) mentions such possible side effects as euphoria, depression, hypertension, and addiction. There's also the possibility of "idiosyncratic reactions" (amphetamines can be associated with feelings of aggression and paranoia) as well as getting hooked on the "cyclic use of a stimulant/sedative combination."

The guide also notes: "The risk of drug accumulation from repetitive dosing warrants serious consideration. The "informed consent" form that military pilots must sign notes that "the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of Dexedrine to manage fatigue."

The bottom-line is as we stated before. If the use of amphetamine and its derivatives are bad for society, then the use of these drugs in military applications is no different, because one day, every soldier returns home and is expected to function within society. And to add the additional burden of addiction or any other consequence of taking drugs while in military service is not just unfair, it's unconscionable.