Assignment 4

            The use of drugs as a stimulant and sleep aid in the military has been a hot topic for debate in the past.  There are many different viewpoints to examine, and while there will inevitably be no right answer, the conclusion cannot be taken lightly, as the results that stem from this debate will have an effect on the health and safety of thousands of people around the world.

            Overall, I think that I agree with the usage of amphetamines in the military to increase the alertness and effectiveness of the pilots.  I think that the demands of the pilots’ jobs call for extra safety measures, and as long as the usage is regulated and the pilots are supported physically and psychologically throughout the process, the usage of these drugs may be required.  Unfortunately, militaries around the world are looking for ways to gain an edge over their opponents, as exhibited by the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which called to find a new way to keep warriors fighting for up to seven days (Knickerbocker, 2002).  Unfortunately, because forces all over the world are turning to means such as these, in order to keep our soldiers as equipped as possible, they must at least match, if not exceed, the equipment of the enemy.  As long as their mental and physical needs are cared for, soldiers should be able to choose whether or not they want to use drugs to enhance their performance.  As covered by Duenwald and Shanker, battles can be a life-or-death situation, and pilots should be given the choice to have an advantage on the battlefield (2003) if needed.

            I believe that the military is ethically distributing these pills, though the ethicality could probably be enhanced.  First of all, the pills that they are giving are legal (though they are Schedule II drugs, meaning that they are highly regulated) (Knickerbocker, 2002).  So, no illegal activity is going on.  Also, all three of the articles mentioned that the pilots don’t have to take the pills if they don’t want to (although it was admitted in every article that in one way or another, the pilots may be pressured into taking the drugs).  Finally, there is a system in place to try to regulate where the pills are at all times, and how many pills a pilot takes at one time (Bonné, 2003).  However, there are flaws, and there are ways to make this process more ethical.  First of all, it could become healthier for the pilots.  They could stop mixing “go” and “no-go” pills, thus reducing the risk for synergistic interactions between the drugs.  Pilots should also provide full consent to taking the drug without feeling forced, as seems to be the case now.  Consenting pilots should be admitted to psychological therapy after service in order to either avoid addiction to the drug (which could be a side effect to taking the drug) or to get rid of the addiction.  Finally, the regulation system to control the amount of pills given to the pilots should be more firmly regulated.  Though the process of giving these pilots is moral enough, there are many things that can be done to make it an even more moral process.

            Unfortunately, I do think that the pilots’ careers will suffer if they do not take the pills.  First of all, as mentioned before, militaries from around the world are always racing to have the best equipment.  Stephen Baker, the former chief of operational testing for the Navy mentioned how advancements in the world of medical technology will be some of the most profound in the coming future (Knickerbocker, 2002).  Unfortunately, if our warriors do not keep up with this trend of medicalization, they will be quickly overtaken by anyone more advanced.  Also, because this field seems to be so advanced, many people support the medicalization of warfare.  So, anyone who does not support this medicalization may not be given as many opportunities on the battlefield as those who do, as they will be seen as unproductive and trying to work against modern scientific discoveries.

            Finally, I feel there are many consequences to taking amphetamines.  First of all are the many side effects that come from taking these drugs.  Aggression, anxiety, and paranoia were all listed side effects of amphetamines.  It is believed that this is the reason that the American pilot accidentally fired on friendly Canadian troops (Duenwald, Shanker, 2003) in April of 2002.  It was also stated that it can be a very addictive drug, and can cause dependence even if its intake is regulated.  Reliance on this drug may also occur in order to obtained desired results for a mission, even the easiest missions.  This reliance may allow for soldiers to lose accountability for their actions, as they would be able to blame them on the drugs that they take, a phenomenon that was studied in class.     

            These consequences can be dealt with in different ways.  Unfortunately, though the side-effects of a drug may not be able to be avoided, there can be ways to minimize the effects.  The soldiers can first be tested to see how the drugs will affect them.  They can be given lower doses, and can be given the drugs only when they are well-rested, which is when the drugs are most effective with the least amount of side-effects.  In order to try to avoid dependence, intake can be regulated, with stocks of the drug being locked up in a secret place when it is not in use.  After service, the pilots can be sent to cognitive therapy in order to try to counteract any type of dependence that may have developed.  Finally, in order to avoid reliance on these drugs to have a successful mission, the drugs should be a last-resort.  They should be saved for only the longest hardest missions, and emphasis should be placed on the power of skill and well-being on the battlefield rather than relying on a drug to carry the team through.  Eliminating reliance on the drug will also move accountability for actions back over to the soldiers.

            In conclusion, the debate over the use of amphetamines by the armed forces is a hot one.  I think that it is acceptable as long as it is ethical and made as safe as possible.  Given the increasing advancement in medical technology, I think that drugs will be used more and more to improve combat performance.  However, I’m sure the debate will always remain, as there is no right or wrong answer as to what the soldiers should do.

Works Cited

Bonné, J.  (2003, January 3).  ‘Go pills’: a war on drugs?.  NBC News.  Retrieved from            http://www.nbcnews.com

Duenwald, M. et al.  (2003, January 19).  Threats and responses: military; bombing error puts a spotlight on pilots’ pills.  The New York Times.  Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com.

Knickerbocker, B.  (2002, August 9).  Military looks to drugs for battle readiness.  The Christian         Science Monitor.  Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com.