CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSPITALIZED DRUG ABUSE CASES IN THE NAVAL SERVICE

The incidence of hospitalization for drug abuse was determined for the Navy and Marine Corps during a 4.5-year period. Cases diagnosed as drug psychosis, drug addiction, or improper use of drugs (N = 1,968) were included, and incidence rates were examined separately for nine consecutive 6-month periods.Two major trends were apparent. Admission rates for drug use rose during 1968 and 1969, and the incidence rate for the Marine Corps in those years greatly exceeded that for the Navy. A high proportion of drug abusers were in the lowest pay grades (ranks).