Pubdate: Sat, 23 Mar 2002
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2002 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Joyce Nalepka
Note: Joyce Nalepka, president of Nancy Reagan's National Federation of 
Parents during the Reagan administration, co-sponsored the bill that closed 
Maryland's drug paraphernalia shops.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)'
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

JUST SAY NO

The 10 top reasons why the Supreme Court should vote to support student 
drug testing:

Adam, 18, deceased.

Mark, 24, deceased.

Garrett, 22, deceased.

David, 26, deceased.

Billy, 17, deceased.

Cooper, 22, deceased.

Ian, 21, deceased.

Angela, 18, deceased.

Michael, 22, deceased.

Stephanie, 19, deceased.

The parents of these young people believe their children might still be 
living had their school systems supported their parental message of "no 
drugs" by drug testing the students.

Seven of the 10 died of heroin overdoses, two died from cocaine, and one 
died in a drug-related accident. All of their parents believe the children 
started drug use by smoking marijuana.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), more than 
16,000 young people die of drug overdoses every year. ONDCP conducted a 
study of more than 2 million death certificates and determined that the 
total number of drug-related deaths exceeds 50,000.

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently hearing a school drug testing case to 
determine if schools are required to show drug and alcohol use before 
testing. We believe that public schools should not be required to show drug 
or alcohol use by students prior to implementing random testing. We believe 
the need to deter drug use by all students and protect their safety is 
cause enough to uphold random drug testing.

Recently, Congress included a provision (Section 4115) in the Education 
Bill to allow states and local jurisdictions to use Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools funds for student drug testing.

Other reasons for student drug testing would include: violence, dropouts, 
school underachievement, teen pregnancy, teacher safety, classroom 
disruption, keeping drug dealers off school property, and the expense of 
supporting "alternative schools" to educate drug-using students (Fairfax 
County operates more than 30 alternative schools to accommodate students 
with drug, alcohol and various delinquent problems).

Joyce Nalepka,
President Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge Silver Spring
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MAP posted-by: Alex