Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

A lucid look at drugs in your life. Photo illustration by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper

One way trip
'My involvement with drugs has completely destroyed my career' - SNCO reveals the true cost of his drug abuse

By Cpl Alisha Carr
and Cpl Sean Burton
A SHORT-term buzz – is it really worth the long-term loss of your health and career?

At the end of the day it’s your choice, but stop and think for a minute about all you have to lose by using illegal drugs – this is the message from a sergeant who is about to be discharged for drug abuse.

In an exclusive interview with Army, the SNCO, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, spoke honestly about using illegal substances, including steroids, cannabis and amphetamines.

Now awaiting a discharge date from SCMA, the soldier, who has served Australia for more than 12 years was caught during a drug raid and, despite being a top soldier with an exemplary service record, now knows what the Army’s zero tolerance policy means.

Maj Max Britton, OPSO 1 MP Bn, was involved heavily in the operation that saw a number of soldiers caught and subsequently charged.

“We mounted an operation that concentrated on certain units, which cannot be named for privacy reasons,” he said.

“In relation to catching this particular sergeant, we had information from several sources – informants in particular – who identified him as being involved in amphetamine use, as well as ecstasy and steroids.

“As a result of that, the civil police – at the same time we began this particular operation, raided his house and located the drugs.”

He said the civil police then charged him with possession of illegal substances.

The Military Police were involved in the planning of the raid for about two months before it occurred, with the civil police getting involved for a week leading up to the raid.

“The civil police’s involvement was quite minimal, however, they assisted in other areas.”

The sergeant said he joined the Army straight after high school and went to infantry, which he found extremely easy and remained there for almost 12 years, going up the ranks.

He attained positions of responsibility and leadership and was highly regarded for his work as an infantry specialist.

“Throughout my career I have used cannabis, mainly on leave periods when I have gone home. I used cannabis at school.

“I started using steroids towards the end of my career, about three or four years ago.

The amphetamine use wasn’t very long, just before I got into trouble at work.”

“It was also a performance thing with work – I think more so with the infantry. I think you will find that steroid use is a lot more widespread within the infantry than in most other corps.

“The steroids were easy to get a hold of. I think that is because I live in a major city – I’ve heard that in Townsville and Perth it is also very easy to get certain drugs now too.

“Normally people who can supply you with amphetamines can supply you with steroids, because they are in the same stream of drugs.”

He said since the authorities discovered his drug abuse his career had been destroyed and that it was very easy to become dependant on steroids.

“When you’re on steroids it is becomes incredibly easy to carry out things that would normally be very difficult physically.

“I think this appeals to a lot of the young guys in the military. I can only speak for arms corps, but our jobs are very physical – carrying packs for long distances and staying awake – if you can do that job more easily, it makes the job better.

“It’s just a matter of whether it can make your life easier – a lot of people think they might give it a go once but of course they become addicted. I know I thought I’d only use steroids once, just to see how it was, but I ended up using it four or five times and found I probably wasn’t going to stop.

“What people need to understand about guys in the Army is that is if they are using steroids it’s not because they want to look like the guys in the magazines who weigh 120kg and can’t run or do anything. In my experience most guys are taking it in athletic proportions – smaller amounts – to get stronger and faster.

“The effects in the short-term are all your standard things like acne, increased aggression at work and home, profuse sweating and sleeplessness. Obviously testosterone levels also deplete and once you stop using steroids it can take a long time to get back to normal.

“Not everyone gets all of these side effects but at the end of the day, it’s all bad. I think most people know that.

“I had to have an operation to remove a build-up of tissue in my chest, which was caused by the aromatising of one of the hormones. The cuts were made underneath my nipples and obviously this is a bit embarrassing at the beach. I still can’t lift weight like I used to, even before steroids. It still feels tight – you can have problems forever.”

He said the emotional and family impact of drug use could be just as great as the physical.

“I think in the Army your unit is also like a family and when a lot of people at work are doing the same thing as you, you can’t really talk about any issues you have because you’ll end up getting thrown out.

“The only people you can really talk to about steroid abuse, in particular, are others who are doing it – and you’re not going to get the correct advice from them.”

He said it had been part of soldier culture not to ask for help. Soldiers had tended to keep problems ‘in-house’.

“If you are addicted to steroids and you want to stay in the Army, you need to stop. That’s the bottom line.

“I had the opinion that I would never get caught and if I ever did I thought my exemplary record would help me scrape through. The Army has a zero tolerance policy and I know that now.

“Although my Army career has been destroyed, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I have a supportive wife who has been outstanding through all of this. However, she’s one in a million and the fact is, my career is now not heading down the path I thought it would.

“A lot of the younger guys who are not married and on their own and who perhaps come from an unstable family with no-one to turn to, could end up on the street under a bridge as a result of taking drugs.”

He said over the years there had been a number of soldiers he knew who had died as a result of drug abuse.

“Some were suicides, some were accidents. This goes back to what I was saying about young guys with no support network – they can end up dead.”

He said if he had not been caught and not stopped taking drugs, his marriage would have broken up.

“I would still be using them and setting a bad example for my men and for the ADF. At the end of the day I would be heading even further downhill.

“Although my life is not with the Army any more, I’m not taking drugs and strangely enough, my family life has never looked better.

“Career wise, had I not done drugs, I would have stayed in the Army and had a long career ahead of me. My involvement with drugs has completely destroyed my career and completely changed the path of my life.”