Soldiers Investigated For Suspicion Involving Heroin

Fifty-six soldiers in Afghanistan have been investigated on suspicion of using or distributing heroin, morphine or other opiates during 2010 and 2011 new information showed. During that time, eight soldiers died of drug overdoses. The country supplies up to 90 percent of the world's opium. The Army said opiate abuse has not been a pervasive problem for troops in Afghanistan. "We have seen sporadic cases of it, but we do not see it as a widespread problem, and we have the means to check," said Col. Tom Collins, an Army spokesman. Army officials said they do random drug testing through the service and the goal was that every soldier was tested at least once a year. Top Army leaders said they have not met that goal, but have been working steadily to substantially increase the number of those tested each year.