Post-Treatment Outcome for Youthful Navy Drug Abusers

Abstract

Selection for retention on active duty and discharge disposition were studied for two groups of young Navy men treated in a drug rehabilitation center during the years 1971–1975. Selection for retention on active duty was related to prior achievement in the service, the expression of emotionally stable and socially responsible attitudes and higher odds-for-effectiveness scores for successful completion of naval service. Men who subsequently received favorable discharges from the service had achieved higher pay grade, had begun drug use at later ages, had not injected drugs and had friends who did not use drugs “harder” than marijuana. The study concluded that carefully selected drug users can modify their behavior and, with therapeutic intervention, complete their obligated service satisfactorily.