The Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP) Office has released the new Synthetic Drug Testing Operating Guide.

Dorice Favorite, director of NADAP, shared: “The operating guide provides commands easy access to the procedures of synthetic drug testing… It is important that the samples are collected, documented and processed correctly. The operating guide will help units do that.”

The release of the operating guide supports the zero-tolerance policy on drug use enforced by the United States Navy, which is considered as a key contributor towards Sailor and Marine readiness. Using synthetic chemical compounds may have an adverse impact on the career and family life of a Sailor. It can also have an impact on a Sailor’s over-all well-being, as well as Fleet readiness.

Favorite shared further: “Navy has zero tolerance for drug use, including the use of designer and synthetic chemical compounds, such as Spice… Our efforts are twofold: we will continue to educate Sailors on the dangers of drug use including new and designer drugs and at the same time identify those who use or possess the substances and hold them accountable.”

The Navy had announced in March that it will begin testing for synthetic drugs, through NAVADMIN 082/12. The NAVADMIN said that this testing is separate from the urinalysis program directed by OPNAVINST 5350.4D.

A positive result on this testing may be used by commanders as a basis for appropriate actions taken with regards to health, safety, and security.