Drug use carries immeasurable consequences for loved ones

  • Published
  • By Col. Michael Fernandez
  • 570th Contingency Response Group commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Guilty! As I heard the president of the court martial board announce the panel's verdict, my heart sank for the weeping mother of a young Air Force officer. One word, a powerful word, a life changing word, a word that will have a profound impact on this young man for the rest of his life—guilty.

His crime? Illegal use of cocaine. How was he caught? Through the Air Force random urinalysis program. What did it cost him? A promising career as an Air Force officer, loss of professional credentials, dismissal from the service and embarrassment not only to the officer but to his family. Fortunately, his actions didn't result in the loss of his or someone else's life.

The Air Force random urinalysis system works. Just ask this Air Force officer; he gambled with the system and lost … a lot.

Some people question why the Air Force has a drug testing program, after all, they will tell you the only victim is the abuser. But that's a myth … would you want to fly on an aircraft operated by a pilot under the influence of cocaine? Would you want an air traffic controller under the influence of drugs giving directions to the aircraft you are flying on? Would you want an intoxicated doctor attempting to perform life saving surgery on you or one of your family members?

We put a lot of trust, and even our lives, in the hands of Air Force personnel every day. We depend on them to accomplish the mission to the best of their ability. We can not afford to have them operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol as their actions impact so many people on a daily basis.

I'd like to share with you a personnel experience concerning my younger brother. In 1985, my brother and his wife had only been married about one year when they had their first and only child, Bobby. Unfortunately for little Bobby and unknowingly to my brother, his mother chose to use cocaine during her pregnancy.

Consequently, Bobby was born with a form of epilepsy caused by drug abuse. He experienced seizures daily and failed to develop properly. Doctors had to change his medication every two months in an attempt to control the seizures, but nothing worked.
Eventually, my brother had became a single parent and had a difficult time raising a special-needs child. He eventually met and fell in love with a terrific woman and they married.

While remarrying was wonderful for his son, Bobby's condition continued to deteriorate. By the time Bobby was five years old, he was blind, almost deaf, could barely speak audible words and was confined to a wheelchair. He continued to have seizures, although not as often or as violent.

Shortly after his 10th birthday, the medications lost their effectiveness and the seizures became uncontrollable. Doctors tried many different medications to no avail. Eventually Bobby slipped into a coma. Then his body began to shut down little by little … he passed away one month later.

One of the toughest moments of my life was being a pallbearer for my 10-year-old nephew. I can still picture the very small coffin at the funeral home and viewing Bobby as he lay resting, looking as if he had finally found peace after an incredible ordeal.

It was also extremely difficult watching my younger brother agonize over the loss of his son compounded by the fact that there was nothing I could do to ease his suffering. I could only imagine the pain and heartache he was enduring.

Is the abuser the only victim? Was it worth making an innocent little boy, suffer and endure such pain and anguish? Is it worth endangering the lives of others? If you take anything from this article, my hope is you remember that the actions of a drug or alcohol abuser adversely impacts other people.

Editor's note: Colonel Fernandez wrote for the 570th Global Mobility Squadron commander due to a permanent change of station.