82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION PROBES POSSIBLE DRUG USE

The 82nd Airborne Division acknowledged Friday that it is investigating
drug involvement among a "small number" of division soldiers.

The division was responding to questions from The Fayetteville Observer
based on a tip from a soldier in the division.

The soldier, a member of the 82nd Military Police Company, said that other
soldiers in his unit were the subject of the drug investigation.

Maj. Gary C. Tallman, a division spokesman, would not give any details
about the unit or units to which the soldiers were assigned.

He said the division wanted to protect the integrity of a Fort Bragg
criminal investigation into the matter.

Ongoing investigation

He said no charges have been filed against any of the soldiers being
investigated.

"But we anticipate further action by the soldiers' chain of command once
the investigation is complete," Tallman said.

Tallman said he could not disclose what type of drugs were involved, who
was being investigated, if any soldiers were drug tested, or if any
soldiers had failed a drug test as a result of the investigation.

"As a matter of policy, we won't discuss details like that," he said. "The
investigation is still going on."