In 1982, after learning that 48% of its sailors aged 18 to 24 were using illicit drugs, the Navy declared war. The battle plan I directed from 1982 to 1984 reduced that percentage to less than 10% within two years; today it is less than 5%. The Navy has conducted 10 million drug tests each year. An independent survey taken in late 1983 revealed that 83% of the sailors in that age group cited random testing as the number one deterrent to drug abuse. Perhaps even more significant, about 26% said they probably would resume usage if the testing program were dropped.
To cut down on "false positive," the Navy's program has called for 6,000 quality-control urine samples to be sent to the laboratory without its knowledge each year. Not one of the more than 36,000 such "blind negative" quality-control specimens tested to date has been incorrectly labeled positive by the laboratory.
Have testing mistakes been made? Yes. However, the Navy instituted a thorough review system for any specimen that tests positive for illicit substances. It is based on a philosophy of "if there's any doubt, throw the case out," weighted in favor of the individual. The lab must never be the sole judge.
The Navy has done all it can to make sure that the Fourth (search and seizure) and Fifth (self-incrimation) Amendments are protected. It has shown that a combination of compassion, sensitivity and clear, firm rules works.
