SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. –
Gen. William Fraser, commander of Air Combat Command, issued a general order April 15 prohibiting the use and possession of Spice and Salvia by servicemembers assigned or attached to ACC.
Spice is a product legally marketed as incense on the Internet and in local smoke shops, according to Special Agent Stephanie Perkins, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 216 criminal chief. It is a mixture of organic incense and herbs which users smoke in the same manner as marijuana.
Common product names for Spice are: Spice Silver, Gold, Diamond, Tropical Synergy, Yucatan Gold, Dream, Blue Lotus, Bombay Blue, Gold Seal and Magic Silver. A three-gram bag can cost anywhere from $30 to $90.
Though this drug is readily available, all local tobacco shops that sell Spice products were briefed on the order and are advised not to sell to Airmen, said Capt. Matthew Lynch, 4th Fighter Wing assistant staff judge advocate.
Salvia, or Salvia Divinorum, is a plant that comes from Mexico and its leaves store a chemical, Salvinorin A, which is similar to marijuana, Agent Perkins said. It is banned in the state of North Carolina as well as 18 others.
Effects of Spice and Salvia are similar, but they vary with the method the drugs are consumed and the amount used.
"The effects alter your mind," Agent Perkins said. "Effects range from feeling mellow and laid back to having panic attacks and hallucinations. You think you are doing something else, when you're not."
Both Spice and Salvia have been popular with Airmen in the past. However, Spice is more commonly used due to its availability.
"Airmen learn about it in tech school and bring it here," Agent Perkins said. Since Feb. 19, when OSI and Security Forces started prosecuting for using Spice and Salvia, 26 Airmen have been interviewed in relation to its use.
The use of Spice or Salvia is drug abuse, therefore Airmen are subject to administrative discharge, which could result in the loss of GI Bill and other benefits.
"Based on General Fraser's general order, any Airman stationed at, or attached to, Seymour Johnson is subject to prosecution under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for the use or possession of Salvia or Spice," Captain Lynch said. "Specifically, they could be prosecuted for violation of failure to obey a lawful general order. The maximum punishment for this offense is a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, two years confinement and a reduction to E-1."
To catch drug users, authorities need the help of every Airman.
"Imagine you have an Airman on the flightline hallucinating that an aircraft is coming after him. That's unsafe," Agent Perkins said. "In order to get rid of this, we need Airmen to come forward and do their part. It is everyone's duty to report any wrong doing."
To report an Airman using Spice, Salvia or any other drug, call 722-DRUG, OSI at 722-1218, 4th SFS at 722-1211 or the Goldsboro Police Department at 530-4231.