IDF sees a 50% increase in drug offenses among soldiers

Indictments for drug use make up 66 percent of all military indictments filed in 2014.

By MAARIV ONLINE
Updated: AUGUST 10, 2015 11:00
An IDF soldier looks through binoculars (photo credit: REUTERS)
An IDF soldier looks through binoculars
(photo credit: REUTERS)
According to an internal annual army report for 2014 published on Sunday there was a 50 percent increase in the number of indictments filed for drug offenses amongst military personnel.
In 2014, 629 indictments were filed against soldiers for drug use, compared to the 416 filed in 2013. The report included the indictments filed against soldiers for the use of "convenience store" drugs. These indictments did not stick, because over the counter drugs are not prohibited under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
Indictments for drug use make up 66 percent of all military indictments filed in 2014 and 50 percent in 2013.
In 2014, 91 percent of all indictments were tried by military courts. This included nearly 4000 soldiers.
This is the second year this report has been published in an effort to create more transparency in military practices.