The Captain’s Voice (on drugs)
“I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose!” author unknown
Heroin, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy (XTC) and MethAmphetamine are illegal. Drug arrests have more than tripled in the United States in the last 25 years totaling a record 1.8 million incarcerations in 2005. Those arrests came at a high cost for our country. Through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the federal government spends in excess of $18.8 billion per year fighting drugs. Many drug reform advocacy groups estimate that the cost of this “war” probably exceeds $50 billion per year when everything is tallied. Of the $18.8 billion the federal government directly spends each year to control drug use, 67 percent goes for criminal justice and interdiction, while 32.6 percent goes for treatment, education and prevention programs. As alcohol prohibition of the last century bolstered corruption; today’s quagmire of drug prohibition laws creates a large and ever present underground market which funds organized crime.
The simple aphorism, “if you break the law, you should be punished” argument pales when compared to the massive shredding of community and family ties produced by a system that values punishment over treatment.
The above statistics, however compelling, to promote the legalization of drugs, does not negate the fact that at this juncture in American history, drugs are illegal. The ramifications of illegal drugs on board a mega yacht can be as far reaching as a Captain losing his license or the Owner losing his vessel.
I had an interesting personal experience with a crew member’s stash that was found onboard a 160’ mega yacht. We were stranded for repairs in a South American country that is notorious for its’ easy drug access. I talked with the offending crew member and took her for a drug test. Then I came up with what I thought was a great idea. I wrote a contract addressing “zero tolerance” for the 2nd offense and in a moment of brilliance, I decided to write in the contract that the crew member had to pay for her own drug tests once per month if she wanted to stay on as crew. I felt that this was an expensive proposition for the offender. Drug tests can cost as much as $100.00. I thought this added expense might help to keep her on the straight and narrow.
The crew member decided to stay on and agreed to all of the stipulations in my contract.
That is when my troubles began. Six other crew members heard about the leniency of giving the offender a second chance and all had their opinions. The Owner was not happy about the second chance which jeopardized my own job. The offending crew member really didn’t have anything to lose but her job and continued to smoke contraband between the time of her first offense and her second drug test. I ultimately lost my job due to my lenient position on drugs. I know now that I was foolish.
In retrospect, as a Captain, I promote zero tolerance of illegal drugs for crew on mega yachts. Too many have too much to lose.
I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police. Keith Richards, Rolling Stones
This month’s Captain “to do” with your Crew
Have a crew meeting and talk about contraband and the consequences of possession onboard. Listen to your crew’s feelings about this subject and gain insight.
Drug War figures are from http://www.drugwarfacts.org/economi.htm a good read and more than you ever wanted to know about the War on Drugs!
|