Army Drug Clinics Turned Away Thousands

According to senior Army clinical staff and records obtained by USA Today, Army substance-abuse clinics have turned away thousands of soldiers in need of treatment since 2010, when substance-abuse outpatient treatment was transferred from medical to non-medical leadership. A retired psychologist describes leadership that simply “want to get the reports in on time and fill the slots. They think that makes a good program. Our goal is to give treatment to soldiers. And [the bosses] see that as inconsequential.” The newspaper also claims that more than two dozen soldiers who were turned away and sent to “poor care” eventually committed suicide. The Army denies that its drug-abuse programs have been in decline.