Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: Erie Times-News (PA)
Copyright: 2002 Erie Times-News
Contact:  http://www.goerie.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1347
Author: Nancy Starr

DRUG TESTING SUPPORTED

The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that a school's interest in deterring 
students from using drugs by the use of random drug testing outweighed the 
privacy interest of the students.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia 
University reports that substance abuse adds billions of dollars to the 
costs of elementary and secondary education in terms of special education.

Schools must be allowed to use all reasonable means to combat drug and 
alcohol use if education is to be successful and our schools are to be 
safe. Drug testing deters drug use and gives students a reason to say "no" 
when their peers ask them to use drugs.

Our nation uses random drug testing on military personnel and 
transportation workers to insure national security and safe travel. Our 
interests in student safety, health, and educational quality are equally 
compelling. We must be willing to use the same tools to defend our 
children. They deserve no less.

Nancy Starr

Erie
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