Army

Regiment's Worth Of Soldiers Sacked Yearly For Substance Abuse

Over the past decade, close to 500 soldiers were dismissed for failing compulsory drug tests every year.

Cannabis was the most frequent drug detected among those that failed tests, but hundreds of soldiers were also caught taking Class A substances like ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine.

The number of soldiers sacked for failing tests peaked in 2006 and 2007 – a time when British troops were engaged in some of the fiercest fighting in Afghanistan after moving into Helmand Province.

Johnny Mercer, a Tory MP who toured in Afghanistan, said the Army must help soldiers more when they come back from touring.

But while sackings have become less frequent since the height of Britain’s military involvement in the Middle East the problem appears not to have gone away.

The Ministry of Defence figures also put the Army’s “zero tolerance” policy on drug-taking into question by revealing hundreds of soldiers have not been fired despite failing tests.

An Army spokesperson said:

"Substance misuse is incompatible with life in the Armed Forces. Where anybody is found to have fallen short of our high standards they will be disciplined appropriately."