Results suggested that longevity of service for MWDs may be influenced by breed differences and that selection criteria should be evaluated to reduce behavior-related discharge from service.

During the six months from October 1985 through March 1986, blood samples from 306,061 civilian applicants for military service from the United States were tested for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Four hundred sixty subjects were positive for the antibody as determined by Western (immune) blot reactivity. The mean prevalence of HIV infection in this population of teenagers and young adults was thus 1.50 per 1000. According to multivariate analysis, the following demographic factors were found to be significant independent predictors of a positive HIV-antibody test: age (adjusted odds ratio = 1.10 per year), black race (adjusted odds ratio = 2.04), male sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84), residence in a densely populated county (adjusted odds ratio = 1.05 per 1000 per square mile), and residence in a metropolitan area with a high incidence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (adjusted odds ratio = 1.53). Antibody-positive applicants were identified in 43 of the 50 states. Counties with high prevalence rates for HIV (greater than 5 per 1000) were located in New York State (four counties), New Jersey (three counties), California (two counties), Maryland (two counties), and Texas, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

Since 1970, the Department of Defense has set forth a series of policies and programs to combat drug and alcohol abuse among military personnel. The goal of the current policy is one of zero tolerance toward drug and alcohol abuse. Programmatic areas to help attain this goal are assessment, deterrence and detection, treatment and rehabilitation, and education and training. Progress toward eliminating drug and alcohol abuse among military personnel is traced by examining efforts in each of these programmatic areas. The authors conclude that the dramatic decreases in drug use and more stable patterns of alcohol use since 1980 indicate that military policy and programs to eliminate drug abuse have been highly successful, but that military efforts to eliminate alcohol abuse should be intensified.

No abstract

This paper presents data on substance use by military personnel from a series of worldwide surveys conducted in 1985, 1982, and 1980 with primary emphasis on the 1985 survey. Estimates are based on responses from participants serving on active duty in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Results for 1985 indicate pervasive use of alcohol, substantial use of tobacco, and low nonmedical use of drugs among military personnel. Average daily consumption of alcohol declined significantly from 1.4 ounces in 1982 to 1.2 ounces in 1985, but the patterns of use remained relatively constant. Nonmedical drug use during the past 30 days declined significantly, from 27.0% in 1980, to 19.0% in 1982, to 8.9% in 1985. Cigarette smoking declined significantly from 51.4% in 1982 to 46.2% in 1985. Current alcohol and drug use is concentrated among younger, less educated, unmarried, and junior and mid-career enlisted personnel. Cigarette pack years are higher among males, whites, those with less than a high school education, and senior enlisted personnel. Results show progress in reducing drug use and smoking in the military, but little change in patterns of alcohol use. New initiatives and approaches by the military to further reduce substance abuse are discussed.