Spice revisited

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  For more than a year, the Air Force and federal government agencies have dealt with the challenges associated with the usage and regulation of "spice."

Spice -- otherwise known as K2 and deemed a drug of concern by the Drug Enforcement Agency -- is a psychoactive herbal and chemical product, which immitates the effects of cannabis or marijuana.

While the components that constitute the drug were not illegal in April 2010, a general order issued April 15, 2010 by Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, prohibited all ACC Airmen from the usage and possession of spice.

Shortly following the ACC ban, Air Force top officials released a memorandum addressing the issues of possession and usage of spice and other mood-altering products. The memo amended Air Force Instruction 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program. As of June 9, 2010, the Air Force-wide policy made spice usage punishable by Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In 2010 more than 250 Airmen faced charges or punishment due to spice-related incidents. In February 2011, the Air Force began testing Airmen for spice usage. Air Force officials emphasized facing jail time, loss of career or possibly both if caught using the substance.  

In the months following the start of service-wide drug testing, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Det. 114 at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., completed a two-month spice-use investigation that resulted in the identification of 30 Airmen.

While the military began tackling control of this issue early, the substance is now restricted among U.S. citizens as well.

It wasn't until March 1, 2011, when the DEA announced that five chemicals used to make spice are considered illegal and classified as a Schedule 1 substance -- a category that includes heroin and marijuana.

The Air Force has dealt with spice-related issues with a no tolerance policy and continues to make improvements to combat today's substance threat.