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Jerusalem - The number of drug addicts in the Israeli army was increasing as
a natural result of uncertainty and lack of security in the Hebrew state
following three years of Palestinian "intifada" or uprising.

Military statistics revealed that 43.3% of army soldiers had consumed
narcotics at least once while 90% said that they had done that before
joining the army.

A senior commander in the Israeli military police tabled the figures during
a debate at the parliamentary committee assigned with combating the spread
of drug addiction.

The committee was deliberating reports on the soaring levels of drug
consumption amidst army recruits.

The MP said that his army was combating the phenomenon in cooperation with
the police and anti-drug authorities employing various methods such as
random medical check-ups, intelligence and trained dogs to find hidden
quantities.