How does the military handle cases involving drug misuse?

In Virginia, the military handles cases involving drug misuse through the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The UCMJ is a set of rules and regulations governing all branches of the United States military. Under the UCMJ, drug misuse is considered a serious offense. Depending on the circumstances, an individual accused of drug misuse may face disciplinary action, including court-martial. When a service member is accused of drug misuse, they may be subject to a pretrial investigation. During this investigation, the accused must explain their alleged conduct and address any underlying medical or psychological conditions that could have contributed to their behavior. The accused also has the right to challenge the evidence presented against them. If a service member is found guilty of drug misuse, the punishment they may face depends on the severity of the offense. A military court may impose restrictions, a fine, demotion, reduction in rank, and/or discharge, depending on the severity of the incident. The military also may respond to drug misuse with other measures, such as enrollment in a drug prevention program or treatment program. In addition, service members facing disciplinary action for drug misuse also are subject to random drug testing throughout the process.

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