Salvia and Spice ban goes Air Force-wide

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http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/06/airforce_salvia_ban_061610/

Salvia and Spice ban goes Air Force-wide

By Scott Fontaine - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 16, 2010 14:55:48 EDT

The Air Force has banned two loosely regulated, mind-altering drugs — and anything “that is inhaled, injected, consumed, or introduced into the body in any manner to alter mood or function” other than alcohol or tobacco.

Lt. Gen. Charles Green, the Air Force surgeon general, signed a memo June 9 that revised Air Force Instruction 44-121, which deals with alcohol and drug abuse. Any use of the forbidden substances is a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a charge of failure to obey an order or regulation.

The instruction also applies to inhalants, propellants, solvents, household chemicals and other substances used for huffing. The service also banned use of prescription or over-the-counter medicine “in a manner contrary to their intended medical purpose or in excess of the prescribed dosage.”

The new memo is largely in response to the use of two designer drugs: Salvia divinorum, an herb native to Mexico and sold as “Sally D” or “Magic Mint,” and Spice, manufactured in Europe and sold as incense. Both are listed as “drugs of concern” on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website, but possessing or using either isn’t a federal crime, though some states have banned or restricted its possession.

Salvia first caught the attention of Air Force investigators in 2003 when they canvassed Oklahoma shops that sell drug paraphernalia. And in the past seven years, some Air Force major commands, units and bases have banned the use of Salvia and Spice.

“While there have not been any known cases of Salvia among Misawa [Air Base, Japan] members, we enacted the policy [in December] in order to prevent its use,” Staff Sgt. Rachael Martinez, a spokeswoman for the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa, told Air Force Times in January. “The intoxicating effects of Salvia have the potential to negatively impact the mission and adversely affect our members.”