Drug abuse rises in Canadian Forces while mission support languishes

"The number of Canadian soldiers battling drug and alcohol problems has more than doubled since Canada became involved in the war on terrorism in 2001", according to a report carried by Sun Media. "From 2001 to 2006, the number of soldiers assessed as requiring treatment soared 125%, according to access to information documents obtained by Sun Media."

Meanwhile, a report by Strategic Counsel, based on a series of focus group discussions has found that "only 40 per cent of respondents across Canada, and almost none in Quebec, support the [Afghanistan] deployment." In Quebec, "support was virtually non-existent." While the Strategic Counsel advised the government on how to overcome this predicament, their assessment was pessimistic: "There is a growing belief that the government is trying to avoid talking about the issue to play down the grim reality that the mission is failing." (Globe and Mail article here.)