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 - --- MAP posted-by: Alex